Da Nang (VNA) - World champion PatrickLange of Germany won the men’s category at the Techcombank Ironman70.3-Asia Pacific Championship 2019 in the central city of Da Nang on May12, marking his first title from the race in Vietnam.
Meanwhile, former world champion Holly Lawrence fromthe UK took the title of the women's category.
Lange finished with a time of three hours, 49minutes and nine seconds. The endurance event included a1.9-kilometre swim, 90km bike and 21km run.
In the women’s division, former Ironman 70.3World Champion Holly Lawrence completed her race in four hours, four minutesand 41 seconds.
Last year's champion Radka Kahlefeldt from theCzech Republic finished third in 4:11:4.
The Czech triathlete came behind Sarah Crowleyfrom Australia, who clocked in at 4:8:55 for second place.
2017 champion Tim Van Berkel of Australiafinished second in the men’s division in 3:50:57, ahead of his countryman TimReed, who came third with a time of 3:52:14.
On May 11, the Ironkids race was held for kidsin age groups from 5 to 10 and 11 to 14.
In the Sunrise Sprint Vietnam (750m swim, 20kmbike and 5km run) for newcomers and amateurs on May 11, Vietnamese athlete HuynhMinh Khoi won the race in 1:9:25.
Triathletes also joined the Newborns Vietnamrun from the Hyatt Regency Spa & Resort to the Da Nang Paediatrics andObstetrics Hospital in order to raise awareness for the work of Newborns Vietnam,a Da Nang-based charity focused on reducing infant mortality. The race hashelped raise more than 50,000 USD to support the charity.
This year's event was the Asia-PacificChampionship for the first time. It drew more than 2,200 triathletes,including 40 professionals and 1,000 Vietnamese athletes, from 50 countries andterritories.
Da Nang has hosted successfully therace since 2015. Vietnam became as the second country after thePhilippines to host a regional Ironman race. Last year, the city'stourism and service industry brought in revenue of 9.4 million USD from theevent.
Da Nang has agreed to host the race every yearuntil 2022.-VNA