Davao City—Jakub Langhammer of the Czech Republic surprised the experts by beating favorite Mitch Robins of Australia to rule the Penong’s 5150 Davao yesterday at the Waterfront Hotel here.
There were no surprises in the Women’s Professional Category, with Dimity-Lee Duke of Australia winning by a comfortable margin over Laura Wood of New Zealand.
Kieran Mcpherson finished second to Langhamer in the Men’s Professional Category. Robins was third while Filipino August Benedicto came in fourth.
John Leerams Chicano won the Asian Elite with a time good enough to place third in the Men’s Professional category.
The Penong’s 5150 Davao started with a 2.5k run, followed by a 40k bike and topped by a 10k run to complete the duathlon.
The Sunrise Sprint (1.25k run, 20k bike and 5k run) followed the Penong’s 5150. Gian Wallace Tumabang Taylor ruled the men’s category while Moira Martinez Erediano ruled the women’s category of the Sunrise Sprint. Both are former IRONKIDS champions.
Originally scheduled as an Olympic distance triathlon (swim, bike, run) the Penong’s 5150 Davao was reclassified by Sunrise Events and the IRONMAN Group to a Run-bike-run Duathlon after water testing concluded that the water quality in the swim area was not suitable for recreational use.
“I had to change strategy because of the conditions. In the end I was happy because there was no swim. Mitch (Robins) is so fast in the swim. I completely changed my race strategy and I think in the end it was good,” said Langhammer.
Duke was not as happy as Langhammer but she was nonetheless satisfied with the overall conduct of the race.
“For most of us, it’s not something we’re accustomed to. I know for a fact I’ve never raced in a duathlon ever, in my entire career. And you don’t train for it. It’s different,” said Duke.
The Aussie winner said she had to run with care and needed to follow her strategy in order to come out on top.
“You do have to make sure that the first run is quite controlled. If you don’t then you get on that bike really tired. For me I felt the first 20 kilometers of that bike. You know, I just didn’t have the legs,” said Duke who finally adjusted during the second half of the bike ride.
“Then it’s the run again. It’s a little bit different. The run has to be controlled again. Definitely different strategy. Different process of how you manage yourself. Even hydration point of view is totally different.”
Raymund Torio finished second to Chicano. They were followed by Jorry Ycong, Juan Carlos Abad, Leonard Rondina and Andrew Kim Remolino.
Renz Wynn None Corbin was second to Taylor. They were followed by Charles Jeremiah Alejano Lipura, Eros Satchi Molit Navio and Justice Famat Wee.
Nicole Marie Seares Del Rosario and Frency Mae Bayking Eduria followed Erediano.
