INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?Promising find Nikko Huelgas proved his mettle by ruling the first leg of the Speedo National Age Group Triathlon Series 2010 Sunday at the Dungaree Beach in Subic.

The 19-year-old Huelgas, recently tapped to join the national developmental pool, clocked two hours, 14 minutes and two seconds to outclass over 130 racers in the grueling 1.5K swim-40K bike-10K run event.

Canadian expatriate David Verlee checked in 21 seconds later in 2:14:23, followed by national duathlete August Benedicto in 2:14:36

?I was really hoping to do well,? said Huelgas, who bucked leg cramps in the foot race.

Huelgas, a member of De La Salle University?s athletics and swimming varsity teams, also clinched the gold in the 19-year-old age group of the first race sanctioned by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines this year.

Mirasol Abad led all female racers with a time of 2:40:37 in the 25-29 age group.

Raenna Crandourne timed 3:54:52 and Rosalina Joson turned in 3:19:06 to round out the top three finishers in the women?s division.

Verlee, who beat Huelgas in the Anvaya Cove Invitational Triathlon last November, also topped the 40-44 age class, while Benedicto ruled the 25-29 group.

Other age group winners in the male division were Emmanuel Alberto Rodil in 2:28:5 (age 20-24); Timothy Joseph Isla in 2:35:36 (30-34); Abe Tayag in 2:22:48 (35-39); and Anthony Welsh in 2:31:06 (45-49).

In the mini-sprint, Allen Santiago and Aina Farhana Farid ruled the 13-15 boys? and girls? class, while Angelo Joson and Azenith Enriquez won the adult division.

Jesila Mari Dejuras (9-0) and Aisya Farisha Farid (11-12) topped the kids aquathlon.