Japanese dominate IRONMAN 70.3 age group; Lim, Paquibot shine

Japanese athletes dominated the IRONMAN 70.3 Lapu-Lapu at Mactan Newtown in Cebu on Sunday, sweeping multiple age-group titles and securing both overall men’s and women’s championships.

Local standouts Kristiane Lim and Khimberly Paquibot kept the Philippine flag flying as Australian Josh Ferris and New Zealand’s Amelia Watkinson captured the premier pro division titles, cheered on by a lively crowd that included schoolchildren.

Ryosuke Ohata led Japan’s charge with an all-around performance, outdueling compatriot Yuki Umeda in a thrilling showdown in the endurance race organized by Sunrise Events Inc.

After splitting the swim and bike leg leads in the 1.9-kilometer swim, 90-kilometer bike, and 21-kilometer run, Ohata unleashed a 1:28:08 run split to win the overall age-group title in 4:26:30.

Umeda, who led out of the swim but slowed slightly on the bike, ran 1:36:06 to finish second overall, while local bet Mervin Santiago placed third in 4:34:59.

Ohata also claimed the men’s 40–44 crown, again edging Umeda, with Markus Goldinger third in 4:39:24, marking a strong rebound after finishing fifth in IRONMAN 70.3 Puerto Princesa earlier this year.

Mayo Onishi completed a Japanese sweep of the overall titles, ruling the women’s division and the 35–39 age group.

Onishi led wire-to-wire, clocking 27:27 in the swim, 2:38:37 on the bike, and 1:28:39 in the run for a 4:41:48 finish, 14 minutes clear of compatriot Kimiko Uji, who took second in 4:55:22.

Hungary’s Krisztina Vaczi placed third in 5:07:55.

Japan’s dominance extended across divisions as Uji also won the women’s 40–44 title, Vaczi took runner-up, Kazuhiro Oishi ruled the men’s 25–29 group (4:38:07), Koji Muroya topped men’s 60–64 (5:35:31), Masao Kikuoka won men’s 70–74 (6:45:25), and Kazutoshi Miyokawa finished solo in men’s 75–79 (8:25:37).

Junko Nakamura won the women’s 45–49 title (5:53:12), Yuki Toyokawa took women’s 50–54 (5:19:28), and Yasuyo Kikuoka captured women’s 60–64 (8:12:03).

Lim gave the hometown crowd a reason to cheer by winning the men’s 35–39 division in 4:44:14, showing his consistency and experience against a tough field.

Paquibot of Lapu-Lapu City brought more local pride, ruling the women’s 25–29 division in 5:32:16.

In other age-group results, Santiago topped men’s 30–34 (4:34:59), beating John Dedeus Alcala (4:52:59) and Jemuel Clemente (4:55:45).

Dutch triathlete Rik Beugel won men’s 18–24 (4:36:59), Arthur Abogado ruled men’s 45–49 (4:56:52), and fellow Dutchman Eric van der Linden took men’s 50–54 (4:54:50).

Hajime Sato led men’s 55–59 (4:58:43), Graeme Alford won men’s 65–69 (5:45:36), Renee Anderson ruled women’s 30–34 (5:21:20), Michelle Boyes topped women’s 55–59 (5:31:39), and Mary Mitchell claimed women’s 65–69 (6:08:38).