Previous Story
More than 170 sign up for Ironman Saipan
Participants in last year’s Ironman 70.3 Saipan rush into the waters off Pau Pau Beach for the swim leg of the inaugural race. (Contributed Photo)
Over 170 athletes from around the world have registered so far for Ironman 70.3 Saipan that will be held on Oct. 27
With three weeks remaining before the Sept. 30 registration deadline, the race is on track of surpassing the 2017 turnout. The inaugural race last year drew 181 participants.
“Ironman is a brand with worldwide recognition, and we have been working hard to grow awareness of and participation in Ironman 70.3 Saipan,” Marianas Visitors Authority acting managing director Martin Duenas. “As Ironman is a very specialized sporting event, our target audience is quite narrow, but we anticipate to reach our overall goal of increasing the number of participants this year. And of course, the international exposure and prestige of being a part of the Ironman family is a big boost for sporting marketing of our other events in The Marianas, as well.”
Ironman 70.3 Saipan, jointly organized by the MVA and Kiyokazu Fitness Club of Japan, will offer 30 age qualifying slots for the 2019 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Nice, France.
An Ironman 70.3 is one of a series of long distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation. Half the length of an Ironman, Ironman 70.3 features a 1.2-mile (1.9K) swim, a 56-mile (90K) bike ride, and a 13.1-mile (21.1K) run.
This year’s Ironman 70.3 Saipan will feature a new course. The race will begin with the swim course of two loops in the crystal-clear waters off Micro Beach at American Memorial Park, which will also be the transition site for the three-loop bike route to the quiet nature and historic and scenic sites of Marpi. The mainly flat, two-loop run course follows the western lagoon of the island from Micro Beach to the MVA office in San Jose and back.
Registration is open at www.ironman.com for individual and relay team categories. A special rate is available for residents of The Marianas and Guam. Residents of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota may also register in person at the MVA office on Beach Rd., San Jose.
Supporters of this year’s race include Hyatt Regency Saipan, Foremost/Coca Cola, and Imperial Pacific International CNMI, LLC. (PR)
