MANILA, Philippines?National duathlete Neil Catiil emerged the new national champion while Monica Torres proved she is still the country?s top lady racer Sunday at the Philippine International Duathlon Open at the Clark Economic Zone.

Catiil, the country?s bet in the Bali Asian Beach, beat August Benedicto in the 10K run-40K bike-5K run event with a time of one hour, 53 minutes and 24 seconds.

Benedicto, a double leg winner in this year?s Sprint Duathlon series, checked in a full minute behind as he failed to keep up with his 22-year-old Cagayan de Oro rival in the final leg.

Rowel Odonio, also a national team mainstay, finished third in 1:58:28.

Torres led from start to finish and timed 2:12:14. She posted a best time of 39:57 in the 10K run leg that gave her a big lead over Lea Coline Langit.

Langit, also Bali-bound, timed 2:19:08 with Mt. Everest conqueror Carina Dayondon placing third in 2:33:00.

?I didn?t expect to win this race since this is just part of my cross training for the Bali Games,? said Catiil. ?But I knew I could perform well because I have been training since April in Subic with the other national athletes under (Australian) coach (Rob) Pickard.?

Lone foreign participant Kristof van Houdt of Belgium, who won the Saab Duathlon in Singapore last June, finished sixth overall in 2:00:06.

Carlo Pedregosa (2:03:24) and Raquel Del Socorro topped the under-23 race.

Joash Serrano (1:08:11) and Kim Mangrobang (1:20:37) ruled the junior male and female sprint race while Dio-wel Aballa (1:15:27) and Maria Carol Capati (1:31:42) topped the adult race. Romina S. Austria