U23 triathletes headline Guimaras race
GUIMARAS—Members of the Philippines’ national Under-23 triathlon team will headline the inaugural 5150 Triathlon Guimaras on Sunday, March 8, with elite standouts Erika Burgos, Joshua Ramos, Kim Remolino and Matthew Hermosa leading the field in the Olympic-distance race.
The event, set on Guimaras Island in Western Visayas, features a 1.5-kilometer swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run across a newly mapped championship course designed to test strategy and endurance.
Burgos, Ramos, Remolino and Hermosa are expected to anchor a competitive Filipino Elite division in what organizers hope will be a showcase of the country’s emerging triathlon talent.
The elite category is backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, highlighting continued government support for grassroots and high-performance sports programs. The race also has support from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority and the National Sports Tourism-Interagency Council as part of efforts to promote sports tourism.
International participation will further boost the event, with athletes from Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Guam, India, Ireland, New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom competing in age-group divisions ranging from 16 to 69 years old.
In addition to the main 5150 race, organizers will stage the Sunrise Sprint Guimaras, which covers a 750-meter swim, 20km bike and 5km run. The sprint is designed for newcomers and athletes seeking a shorter-distance challenge.
Relay competitions in the men’s, women’s and mixed divisions will also feature several of the country’s leading triathlon clubs.
The swim leg will begin at Playa de Paraiso on the island’s eastern coast, followed by rolling bike and run courses that organizers say could prove decisive in separating contenders.
Race weekend activities start Friday with the 5150 Guimaras and Sunrise Sprint Expo from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Joaquin James Pavilion at Playa de Paraiso Beach Resort. A final race briefing and welcome dinner hosted by the province are scheduled for Saturday.
The Sunrise Sprint begins at 6 a.m. on Sunday, followed by the 5150 age-group and relay rolling start at 6:30 a.m.
The event is organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. in partnership with the Province of Guimaras as part of efforts to position the island as a growing hub for triathlon and endurance sports.
