Triumph in Palawan: Satar Salem and Leyann Ramo Excel at Ironman 70.3 Puerto Princesa

In the recent Ironman 70.3 triathlon held in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Satar Salem and Leyann Ramo achieved victories in their respective categories, showcasing endurance and strategic acumen.

Satar Salem, hailing from Lanao del Norte, completed the challenging course in a time of four hours, 22 minutes, and 25 seconds. His segment times were 29:08 for the swim, 2:22:31 for the bike, and 1:26:40 for the run. Salem’s performance edged out Junyu Cao of China, who completed the race in 4:23:13. Reflecting on his accomplishment, Salem stated, “I’ve been eyeing this for the whole year and now it has come true. With all the hard training, it finally bore fruit.” This victory marks a significant improvement from his previous year’s 17th place finish. “Now, I made sure to reserve strength for the run part,” Salem noted, highlighting his tactical approach to the race.

The concluding run segment was particularly competitive. Salem recounted, “The run was challenging because Cao was close behind and determined to win. The last two kilometers were crucial.”

In the women’s division, Leyann Ramo led with a commanding time of 5:02:56, marking her superiority in the triathlon disciplines. Grace Banzon, American Catherine Wood, Chloe Jane Ong, and Brazilian A. Nunez Muellerroger followed in subsequent positions.

Eric van der Linden from the Netherlands, winner of the full Ironman in Subic, Zambalez, secured the third spot. Mervin Santiago and former champion John Alcala completed the top five.

The Ironman 70.3 Puerto Princesa attracted athletes from 38 countries, making it a truly global event. The race, which included a 1.9km swim, 90km bike, and 21.1km run, was organized by the Ironman Group and Sunrise Events, Inc. This year’s edition was also notable for hosting the TriClub Championship Series for the first time, further enhancing its prestige in the international triathlon scene.

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