For the first time, a first-time triathlete from Catanduanes was able to finish the grueling Alveo Ironman 70.3 race, ending at 112th place among nearly 1,000 competitors from all over the country.
Ronald Mendez, a member of the Bato Bikers Club, completed the 1.9-kilometer swim, 90-km bike and 21-km run in 4 hours, 43 minutes and 8 seconds during the race held March 26, 2023 in Davao City.
He snagged 9th place out of the 23 athletes in the 18-24 years old male category and 100th among all males, with an average pace of 5 minutes and 25 seconds per kilometer.
His main sponsor and companion, Craig Weymouth, had a slightly faster pace of 5:15.
It was Weymouth, a foreigner married to a local lass from Bato named Maria, who persuaded him to join the race in faraway Mindanao despite his misgivings, considering that he used an ordinary bike.
Mendez expressed his gratitude to the Bato municipal government, Mayor Juan Rodulfo, the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Vice Gov. Peter Cua, Gov. Joseph Cua, Kap JP, Bato Bikers Club, Janice Teope, Angel Pereyra Chavez, Dongs Bike Shop, Craig and Maria Weymouth, and Rose Dula for their invaluable support.