NEW faces emerged in both the standard and sprint distance races in Sunday’s Triathlon Association of the Philippines-organized 1st Philippine Aquathlon Championships held at the Camayan Beach Resort inside the Subic Freeport Zone that attracted 164 entries.
Track runner and Iligan native Leyann Ramo, who just graduated from UST, lost ground in the 1K swim leg after keeping pace with Vicky Deldio in the first 2.5 K run, but regained it in the final run leg.
She then unleashed a final burst of speed nearing the finish line to become the country’s very first female national aquathlon champion, clocking 41 minutes and 17 seconds, with Deldio unable to conquer the strong currents in the open water swim and finishing a far second in 43:49.
Third placer was Marga de los Reyes, who was left behind by Deldio in the first uphill climb in the final run leg .De los Reyes finished the distance in 46:15.
“Wala ako expectations here, just to finish it, mahina kasi ako sa run. Mabuti na-maintain ko ‘yung lead after nu’ng swim,” said Ramo, who dreams of becoming a national triathlon team member even as she only took up the sport late last year.
Another new face that came out of the race that was backed by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and other sponsors Camayan Beach Resort, Ocean Adventure, Standard Insurance, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Century Tuna, The Light House, Subic Holiday Villas and Vita Coco, was De La Salle Zobel’s swimmer Inaki Emil Lorbes, who came out of nowhere in the shorter 1K run-600 swim-1k run sprint distance race for the Aspirants 13 to 15 group, where TRAP is focusing to select the country’s representatives for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.
Lorbes was able to catch up with the lead group in the swim leg and shocked the more favored national team members en route to a solo finish in the race, clocking 18:25.
The favored Juan Baniqued finished second, 7 seconds slower, with Marcus Faytaren finishing third in 18:37.
“When I caught up with them in the swim leg, I felt I had a chance to win the race,” said Lorbes, who remains unsure whether he will shift to triathlon in the future.
Baniqued, 14, an 8th grader at the Colegio de San Agustin, had a slip at the turn-around in the first run leg as his knees buckled, but managed to shrug it off, what he could not was the big lead that Lorbes erected in the swim part, “ I could not catch up with him anymore but I am happy with my finish and I will join all the qualifying races, my dream is to make it to the Youth Olympics, “ related Baniqued .
On the distaff side of the Aspirants’ group, the Borlain sisters, Samantha and Tara finished 1 – 2, clocking 18:42 and 19:19 respectively, relegating national junior team member Lauren Plaza to third as Plaza negotiated the distance in 19:21.” I was not sure of winning at the start, only when I crossed the finish line, I am offering the win to my younger sister Tara , my biggest rival, I would like to do the YOG for her as she cannot qualify anymore because of age, “ said the elder Borlain.
Third placer Plaza felt she exerted too much effort in the first run leg and ran out of steam in the final run, “ I am a bit disappointed but I will pursue my dream for the YOG by joining the other point earning race, taking a step at a time, “ said Plaza, one of the promising young triathletes of TRAP together with the Borlain sisters.
Male standard distance and national aquathlon champion was Andrew Kim Remolino from Talisay City, Cebu, who pulled off a come from behind win as he made his move in the swim leg and poured it on in the final run to ensure his victory. “Alam ko malalakas kalaban dito, sa last 300 meters na lang ko naisip na akin na ito, “ said Remolino who was followed by national team member Julius Constantino from UP-Diliman whose preparation for the UAAP swimming competitions resulted to a slow down in his running. He clocked 35:14 .to Remolino’s winning time of 35:02. Another team national team member Mark Hosana could only finish in third place in 35:15.
“We are certainly on track with TRAP’s objectives, our mandate is to focus on the national team, both the elite and the juniors, and on our YOG aspirants, this aquathlon event is the start for our search and we are confident that with we have put in place, we will see positive results in 2018, “ said Mon Marchan, newly-elected TRAP President, adding that TRAP has identified already at least 9 races this year to 2018 where the Aspirants for YOG slots can earn qualifying points.
For the rest of the age group winners in the national aquathlon championships, also backed by Endurance Sports, Bert Lozasa Swim School, C-Lium Fibre, and Stat Med were Miller Wisco, Andre Benedict Alarillo, and Joemari Regori in the boys’ 16 to 19, the three clocked 23:59, 29:06, and 43:37 respectively; 16-24 champions were Brent Valero for the males with Jacqui Lamparero for the females; Emmanuel Comendatior topped the men’s 25-29 group, while Janina Tan topped the women’s side, 30 to 34 men’s champion was Alan Manialung with a time of 44:17. In the distaff side, Nica Joy Rojo won with a time of 58:00.
The Men’s 35 to 39 was dominated by Jet Ramos with 42:20 while the women’s side was topped by Diana Samson with 1:04:57 ; 40 to 44 men’s category champion was George Vilog clocking 41:02 while Bic Ferreria won the women’s 40-above title with 53:36. The 45-49 title was won by Gede Delena while veteran Frank Lacson emerged victorious in the 50-above age-group.