INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - National team mainstays led by Neil Catiil and Monica Torres proved they are head and shoulders above the rest by claiming the top three places in the Powerade National Duathlon Open Series second leg held over the weekend on Macapagal Avenue in Parañaque.

Catiil and Torres won unchallenged in the 7K run-30K bike-4K run race to pocket P2,000 each plus gift items.

Catiil, a 23-year-old Cagayan de Oro find, leaned on his riding skills to top the men’s race in one hour, 18 minutes and 43 seconds.

First-leg winner and fellow National Robeno Javier finished second, three minutes and two seconds behind. A third National, August Benedicto, settled for third.

Benedicto, the reigning national titlist, timed 1:22:36, as he missed a U-turn in the first loop of the bike event.

Torres was never threatened in the distaff race and came out on top with a time of 1:28:13.

Kim Marion Mangrobang, 18, followed her to the finish line in 1:31:39 with Mirasol Abad, a former dragon boat athlete, taking third spot in 1:37:17.

Catiil and Torres both failed to join the first leg on March 28 as they competed in the Mekong River Asia Cup race in Thailand.

Catiil placed fifth in the men’s elite under-23 division of the event while Torres clinched third behind two Japanese entries.

Johanna Pe Benito, the Subic Triathlon’s sprint champion and Animo Sprint Triathlon topnotcher, and newcomer Philip Jurolan ruled the 16-19 age group.

Pe Benito timed 2:01:26 while the 17-year-old Jurolan, also from Cagayan de Oro, clocked 1:28:24.

Other winners: (Male) Carlo Jose Pedregosa (20-24), Roldan Antonio (25-29), Jeff Valdez (30-34), Abe Tayag (35-39), Jose Trinidad (40-44), Joevic Pajarillo (45-49), Bernardo Carpio (50-above); (Female) Jennifer Oliva (20-29), Joyette Jopson (30-39) and Alessandra Beltran (40-above)