Familiar faces return for Rota Blue

Some familiar faces are returning for the 23rd Annual Rota Blue Triathlon that will be held tomorrow.

Co-organizer Kiyokazu Fitness Club (KFC) has reported that triathlete legend Hideya Miyazuka and elite long-distance triathlete Masayuki Matsumaru, both from Japan, will be returning for the event. The two will be joined by a board member of the Tokyo Olympics committee.

“The return of prestigious Japanese athletes and participation of the Tokyo Olympics committee member is good for sport tourism of The Marianas, bringing us media coverage and hopefully more interest in the future,” said Marianas Visitors Authority Community Projects manager Martin Duenas. “We, along with the Rota Mayor’s Office and Rota Municipal Council, are ready to welcome all our athletes to the beautiful island of Rota this weekend.”

Triathlon magazine LUMINA and the nationwide Tokyo Broadcasting System are slated to cover the event. According to KFC president Kiyozaku Onishi, they have also been approached by worldwide triathlon organization Ocean Lava to join their world series event.

Rota Blue Triathlon is an annual signature event of the MVA and features two distances: the A-type half marathon distance, which includes a 1.5-kilometer swim, followed by a 40K rigorous biking course and a 10K run (no time limit); and the B-type Olympic distance, which has a distance of 2K in the swim leg 90K in the bike course and 21Krun (8-hour time limit). For team competitors, there will also be triathlon of the A-type distance, again with no time limit.

The pre-race briefing for all participants will be held today at Rota Resort & Country Club at 6:30pm. Starting time for both distances is 6:30am at Rota’s East Harbor. Wetsuits are permitted, while bike helmets are required. Registration fees are lower this year: $60 for A-type course solo competitors and $50 for each member in the team division. The fee for the B- type course is $80. The entry fee includes an event T-shirt, high-quality swim cap, and an invitation to the awards banquet.

For more information, visit the Events Calendar at www.mymarianas.com or contact MVA Community Projects specialist Ed Diaz at 1-670-664-3210 or ediaz@mymarianas.com, or contact Sandra Atalig at the MVA Rota Office at 1-670-532-0327 or satalig@mymarianas.com. (PR)