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Philippines, 22 Feb 2026 |
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Fastest Pinay in IronMan 70.3 World comes from Lanao del Norte By Kim delos Reyes-Teves PhilBoxing.com Mon, 24 Nov 2025  Team Tri SnD Barracuda THE fastest Filipina in the recent Ironman 70.3 World Championships – 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21km run - held last November 8 and 9 in Marbella, Spain comes from Sultan Nagar Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte. She is Leyann Ramo [age group 30-34] while the second was her teammate Joanna Marie Cruz [40-44]. They are members of the TeamTri SnD Barracuda under Coach Ani de Leon Brown. Team Tri SnD Barracuda arrived in Spain last November 3 then the race started with the women. There were more than 2,000 female participants from all over the world. Team Tri SnD Barracuda was also composed of Lyllian Grace Banzon [35-39], Sittie Aminah Dimaporo [35-39] and Sarah Marie Leano [40-44]. On November 9, it was the Male event. Team Tri SnD Barracuda was represented by Team Captain Ulwan Dimaporo [35-39], KennethBonda [20-24], Angelo Leano [40-44], Wendill Gaco [45-49] and Arthur Abogado [45-49]. The swim was very challenging. The water temperature was around 14-16 degrees cold and it was a wetsuit swim. “Wet suit is legal to swim in because it's so cold. It was challenging for us because we come from a tropical area and I swim training. Usually the water temperature was 30-32 degrees,” said Cruz. Cruz added: “It was such a humbling experience and inspiring. being surrounded by women, who represent their country from around the world.” The bike course is the most difficult, it is90km with an elevation of almost 1,800meters. “There were 25 Filipina in different age categories while 53 Pinoy,” said Cruz. August Benedicto was the fastest Filipino while second was second Mervin Santiago. Q and A by Joanna Marie Cruz: 1.How did you feel the moment you found out you qualified? We qualified for the World Championships at Subic Ironman70.3 last June 15, 2025 — and it was completely unexpected. Just two weeks before, I had a bike crash at the Baganga5150 triathlon race and was still recovering. The weeks leading up to the race were painful, with intense training and chiropractic sessions, and I even swam with one hand because I couldn’t use my injured arm. Finishing 2nd in my age group and earning the slot made all the struggle worth it. I’m so happy with the result. 2. What was the most memorable moment during the Ironman70.3 World Championship? My most unforgettable moment at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships was standing at the swim start on women’s race day. Looking around at all the incredible women from every corner of the world — each one having earned their spot through countless hours of training and qualifying races — was both humbling and inspiring. Standing there, ready to race, representing my country on the world stage, that experience of what it means to be a World Championship athlete. That moment — the anticipation, the pride, the respect for everyone around me — is something I will never forget. 3. What is the next major goal for your Mindanao-based team moving forward? And how do you use this world experience to inspire triathletes in Mindanao? Our next major goal as a Mindanao-based team is to continue raising the level of triathlon in Mindanao and across the Philippines. We want to show that athletes from outside Luzon can compete and succeed on the world stage. This World Championship experience has taught me that dedication, hard work, and resilience pay off. I hope to use what I’ve learned — from training, racing, and o the bike course is the most difficult, its 90km with an elevation of almost 1,800metersvercoming setbacks — to inspire other triathletes in Mindanao to dream bigger, push their limits, and believe that they too can reach international competitions. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Kim delos Reyes-Teves.  |
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