Text and photos by: Andrew “Doyzkie” Buenaviaje
August 5, 2012, Cebu hosted one of the country’s biggest events this year, the Iron Man 70.3 Philippines. The event included participants from more than 30 countries. Pete Jacobs of Australia won the triathlon finishing the race with an official time of 4:07:38 and making this his 3rd in a row win in the Professional Elite Male Category. Switzerland’s Caroline Steffen clocked 4:20:48 dethroning Australia’s Belinda Granger who finished third with 4:32:09 time in the Professional Elite Female Category.
Started at around 6 am at the beach cove of Shangri-La MActan Resort and Spa, the athletes braved the water of Hilutungan Channel for the swimming stage of the competition.
Coming out of the water first is, Pete Jacobs of Australia who clocked 21 minutes and 21 seconds. Coming out of the water next is Mathieu O’Hallaran of Canada who timed 22 minutes and 16 seconds and just behind him is USA’s Amanda Stevens with 22:21 clocked on the swim.
The athletes then go on a 90KM bike race. Pete Jacobs and Cameron Brown closely finished the bike part of the race with times 22:15:34 and 22:14:14 and starting the 21KM run. Mathieu O’Halloran finished the bike at 2:19:59 and Caroline Steffen at 2:20:43.

Pete Jacobs and Cameron Brown closely finished the bike part of the race with times 22:15:34 and 22:14:14
Professional Elite Male title was awarded to Pete Jacobs who clocked 1:27:55 on the run and finished the race in 4 hours,7 minutes, 38 seconds. 2 minutes behind Jacobs is New Zealand’s Cameron Brown who came in second with a time of 1:29:18 on the run and finishing the race in 4:09:01. Canadian Mathieu O’Halloran came in third with 1:34:38 on the run and finished 4:19:32.
Professional Elite Female title went to Caroline Steffen of Switzerland who finished the run at 1:32:49 and the race in 4:20:48. Coming in second is USA’s Bree Wee finishing the run in 1:36:31 and the race in 4:27:24. Coming in third was last event’s winner Belinda Granger of Australia finishing the run in 1:41:10 and the race in 4:32:09.
Filipino Elite male Champion is Augusto Benedicto finishing the race in 4 hours, 27minutes and 39 seconds. Monica Torres bagged the Filipino Elite Female category title, making it her 4th title.

4th placer Pro Elite Male Category-Erich Felbabel of Hong Kong talking to the press. On his left is Mathieu O'Halloran and on the right are Filipino Elite Category winners Monica Torres and August Benedicto
Here are some more pictures of the Iron Man 70.3 Philippines!

A very inspiring guy! One legged guy who was part of the relay category of the race finishing the swim