The island province of Camiguin delivered a spectacular global showcase of sports tourism as over 300 athletes from 15 countries raced across volcano lined coastlines, turquoise waters, and scenic roads in the recent Ironman 5150 triathlon.
The 51.50-km event kicked off with the 1.5-km swim at at the iconic Sunken Cemetery, transitioned to the twin-loop 40-km coastal bike course at the Old Church Ruins, and ended with the 10-km run at the Camiguin Sports Complex in the capital town of Mambajao.
In the main event, Bea Quiambao continued her breakout season with another commanding victory after topping the women’s division in 2:44:16. The Bukidnon standout controlled the race from the swim through the run despite challenging and shifting weather conditions.
Kenneth Bonda captured the men’s overall title in 2:19:59, delivering the strongest performance while also securing the Philippine Sports Commission Filipino Elite category crown.
A standout is 16-year old Filipino Elite athlete John Edsille Hamlan who impressed spectators with another breakthrough performance and showcased the future of local triathlon and the grassroots development created through the Sunrise Events and PSC partnership.
“Camiguin is one of the country’s most beautiful and storied islands, and bringing an Ironman 5150 race here allows us to combine both adventure and cultural discovery,” says Princess Galura, president and general manager of the Sunrise Events Inc., the sports management firm which is the exclusive licensee of Ironman-branded events in the country.
Sunrise Sprint Camiguin, the shorter version of the 5150, also delivered exciting racing as Patricia Cruz-Bautista and Yuen Verbruggen claimed the men’s and women’s title, clocking 1:17:40 and 1:32:15, respectively.
The Sprint, which consists of a 750-m swim, 25-km bike, and 5-km run along the same route, serves as a training ground for those intending to take part in the bigger Ironman events.
Camiguin Governor Xavier Jesus “XJ” D. Romualdo welcomed the event as a milestone for the province’s growing tourism and sports initiatives. “We are proud to welcome triathletes from across the Philippines and around the world to experience the province, not just as a destination, but as a community which celebrates nature, culture, and active lifestyle.”
He said that the successful staging of the event strengthened the province’s position as an emerging international sports tourism destination in the Philippines and Asia, and would pave the way for another Ironman next year and other similar competitions.
On top of the Ironman, it is also hosting a variety of events under its “Camiguin, Isle Be There” branding. Other major sporting events this year were the Climb Camiguin in March which scaled the challenging Mounts Timpoong-Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument, and the recently-concluded Swim Junkie races at the picturesque White Island sandbar.
The province will also hold the Camiguin Dive Festival in August in partnership with the Department of Tourism-Northern Mindanao Regional Office.
Ironman 5150 was supported by the Provincial Government of Camiguin and the various municipal governments, the Philippine Sports Commission, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), the National Sports Tourism Inter Agency Committee, Sunrise Events, and The Ironman Group.
