The island province of Camiguin showcased its growing sports tourism industry as more than 300 athletes from 15 countries competed in the recent Ironman 5150 triathlon held across the province’s scenic coastal routes and tourism landmarks.
The 51.50-kilometer race began with a 1.5-kilometer swim at the iconic Sunken Cemetery, followed by a twin-loop 40-kilometer bike course passing through the Old Church Ruins, and concluded with a 10-kilometer run at the Camiguin Sports Complex in the capital town of Mambajao.
Bea Quiambao dominated the women’s division with a winning time of 2:44:16, sustaining a strong performance throughout the race despite changing weather conditions.
In the men’s division, Kenneth Bonda emerged as overall champion after clocking 2:19:59, while also securing the Philippine Sports Commission Filipino Elite category title.
Meanwhile, 16-year-old Filipino Elite athlete John Edsille Hamlan impressed spectators with a breakthrough performance that highlighted the continued development of grassroots triathlon programs in the country.
Princess Galura, president and general manager of Sunrise Events Inc., said hosting the race in Camiguin allowed participants to experience both adventure and cultural discovery in one of the country’s most scenic islands.
The Sunrise Sprint Camiguin, a shorter version of the race featuring a 750-meter swim, 25-kilometer bike ride, and 5-kilometer run, also produced exciting results as Patricia Cruz-Bautista and Yuen Verbruggen captured the men’s and women’s titles, respectively.
Xavier Jesus Romualdo welcomed the successful staging of the event, saying it marked another milestone in the province’s tourism and sports development efforts.
According to Romualdo, the event further strengthened Camiguin’s position as an emerging sports tourism destination in the Philippines and Asia, while opening opportunities for future Ironman races and similar international competitions.
Apart from Ironman 5150, Camiguin has also been hosting several tourism and sporting activities under its “Camiguin, Isle Be There” campaign, including Climb Camiguin and the Swim Junkie races held at White Island sandbar.
The province is also set to 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, local municipal governments, the Philippine Sports Commission, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee, Sunrise Events, and The Ironman Group.
