Ferris, Watkinson win IRONMAN 70.3 Lapu-Lapu amid roaring crowd

MACTAN, Cebu – For Australia’s Josh Ferris and New Zealand’s Amelia Watkinson, winning the IRONMAN 70.3 Lapu-Lapu presented by Megaworld — through overcast skies, rain, and sun — was a triumph in itself at Mactan Newtown on Sunday.

But doing it to the deafening cheers of schoolchildren and locals, whose energy pushed them to the limit and carried them to the finish line, made it even more special.

“I was screaming along without knowing,” said Ferris, who captured the men’s professional crown in 3:49:10 over the 1.9-kilometer swim, 90-kilometer bike, and 21-kilometer run, besting New Zealand’s Mike Phillips, who clocked 3:52:40. “My ears were about to burst, they were so loud. All the school kids out there, all the people were cheering, and it was awesome.”

Ferris emerged from the water with a strong swim split of 21:37, maintained momentum on the bike with a 2:02:15 ride, and held steady in the run, clocking 1:20:32 to seal the victory. His time was just three minutes shy of the 3:46:44 record set by Mexico’s Mauricio Méndez in 2018, also in Lapu-Lapu.

Phillips, who started with a relatively slow swim time of 23:13, failed to close the gap during the bike leg, settling for 2:04:54. Despite posting the fastest run split of the day at 1:19:45, he fell short of catching Ferris.

New Zealand’s Sam Osborne, last year’s runner-up to South Africa’s Henri Schoeman, finished third in 4:04:05 with splits of 22:38 (swim), 2:08:59 (bike), and 1:27:27 (run).

The race was more than a grueling triathlon — it was a festival of heart, heat, and soul. Despite Mactan’s punishing sun and a sudden downpour that slicked the roads mid-race, thousands of cheering locals — many of them wide-eyed schoolchildren — transformed the event into something far more memorable than just another win.

Ferris pushed through the final grueling kilometers of the run with grit and crowd-powered adrenaline. “They were probably the reason I held on in those last three kilometers. It wasn’t going pretty. But they just kept me going.”

Watkinson shared the sentiment as she returned to Cebu to win the women’s premier division of the event organized by Sunrise Events Inc. and backed by Mactan Newtown — eight years after first claiming the same crown in 2017.

She finished with a total time of 4:14:22, with splits of 26:24 (swim), 2:14:40 (bike), and 1:28:17 (run).

“It’s actually quite a unique atmosphere,” Watkinson said. “You can feel the visual energy out there. The kids had so much enthusiasm. It’s different here — it’s not just racing, it’s racing with emotion.”

Australian athlete Sophie Malowiecki led after the swim with a strong 24:13 but struggled on the bike, posting 2:27:55, before finishing with the fastest run split of the day at 1:27:42, for a total time of 4:24:42.

Kiwi Samantha Kingsford took third place in 4:27:45, with splits of 25:43 (swim), 2:24:01 (bike), and 1:32:33 (run).

Watkinson’s strategy was textbook: take control in the bike leg, conserve just enough for the run, and endure the heat. But she said the support along the route made the race unforgettable.

“You know it’s going to be a challenge, but it’s a challenge for everyone,” she said. “The heat was brutal, yes, but I just focused on staying cool and enjoying the experience. That atmosphere — the energy of the crowd — definitely helped.”

The course tested even the best, but the soul of the event came from the people of Lapu-Lapu.

Young students lined the route, waving flags, holding handmade signs, and cheering for athletes whose names they may never know — but whose feats they’ll never forget.

“It’s something I’ll carry with me,” Ferris said. “It’s not just about winning. It’s about being part of something bigger. This was special.”

The race was not without its hitches. A minor crash on the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway during the bike leg created a tense moment. The iconic bridge, a scenic highlight of the route, turned slippery following a brief rain that caught both organizers and athletes off guard.

Several local and international competitors were involved in the crash, temporarily marring the otherwise smooth execution of the event. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, and most athletes were able to continue.

Race organizers responded quickly, with medical personnel on the scene within moments. The incident highlighted the unpredictability of outdoor competition — and the resilience of those who take part in it.

Watkinson, a veteran of the sport, remains noncommittal about returning next year. “It’s a whole year away,” she said. “I’d love to say yes, but we’ll take it race by race.”

She heads to Uzbekistan next — another test, another finish line — but said Lapu-Lapu left its mark.

As for Ferris, the IRONMAN 70.3 Lapu-Lapu may be the beginning of his rise.

“This is the pinnacle of our sport. Everyone grows up watching IRONMAN. To win here — it’s amazing. Hopefully, it’s the first of many.”