Torn between dancing and swimming, Kyle Enialle Toledana chose to prioritize the latter and it proved to be her ticket to success in the more demanding sport of triathlon.
The eight-year-old Kyle Enialle Toledana K2 grader at Little Angel Child Development Academy in Santiago, Isabela grabbed her first multi-sport trophy on Saturday following a rousing win in the girls’ 6-8 years old division of the Alaska IronKids in Subic Bay, Zambales
With supportive parents Edward and Leilani, the young Toledana went into serious training in swimming and joined provincial and regional tournaments. The best thus far was a silver medal in her age cagetory in regional Palarong Pambansa.
In winning her event, Toledana used her strength in swimming to build considerable gap against her competitors, providing enough cushion in the bike and run event.
“Swimmer kasi talaga siya. Then sa bike and running kami kami lang sa family,” related her mother Leilani.
At an early age, her mother saw in her self-motivation to excel in whatever she does.
“Yung coach nga ang naghihinto sa kanya na mag train pero nag rererequest pa yan na training pa dahil bitin daw.”
It was Toledana’s third IronKids. She placed second in March edition last year also in Subic and 6th in Cebu in August.
“Ngayon po panalo na,” Toledana butted in. She still wants to pursue her dancing though “Dancing naman po (after this).”
Finishing second in her class were Jelaine Margaux Manansala, who had a time of 20.11 minutes, and Chantal Isabelle Calolot (22.15)
Winning the boys’ class was Gabrielle Ethan Gaw, who submitted the best time of 16.18 minutes in the youngest age bracket of this event backstopped by Alaska Milk Corp., and organized by Sunrise Events Inc.
In the older age categories, multi-titled Wacky Baniqued had to go through the proverbial eye of the needle before pulling through even as while Karen Andrea Manayon scored a breakthrough in leading the winners’ circle in this event backstopped by Alaska Milk Corp., and organized by Sunrise Events Inc.
Making his move in the 3.2K run, Baniqued beat Clifford Pusing in a pulsating dash to the finish to cop the boys’ 13-14 diadem. Baniqued and Pusing were given identical clockings of 42:31.
“It was my first time to experience racing neck-and-neck here and I’m happy to pull through,” said Baniqued, who had won all his three races in the 2016 Alaska IronKids.
On his final year in the circuit produced and organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. and sponsored by Alaska Milk, Baniqued said he wants to go out with a bang.
“I’m gonna go all out, this being my last year,” he said.
Talisay, Cebu pride Manayon topped the distaff side, submitting a winning time of 48:27 over runner-up Kristana Erica Derrada (51:38) and third placer Angelina Powell (52:57).
“After placing third in Cebu last year, I really worked hard to achieve my goal of winning first place for the first time,” said Manayon, whose previous best was a bronze behind the Borlain sisters in the Cebu race last year.
The Alaska IronKids also served as one of the opening activities for Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 weekend in this former US naval base.
Other IronKids winners were Zedrick James Borja and Moira Frances Erediano in the 11-12, Michael Gabriel Lozada and Kira Ellis in the 9-10, and Gabriel Ethan Gaw and Kyle Enialle Toledana in the 6-8.
Borja clocked 33:18 in winning the boys’ 11-12 while Erediano timed 34:50 in ruling the distaff side. Lozada copped the boys’ 9-10 with 24:26 even as Eliis reigned in the girls’ competition with 25:46.
Meanwhile, the Century Tuna Ironman 70.3, presented by Century Bangus and Department of Tourism, will blast off early morning today Sunday.
The premier triathlon event is also sponsored by 2Go Express, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Ace Subic Bay, Manila North Tollways Corp., Gatorade, Saucony and TYR swim cap.