BENJAMIN Rana Jr. ended a two-year wait for a title yesterday, besting a formidable field to rule the men’s Elite race in the Tri United 3 at Dungaree Beach of Subic Freeport.
Finally rewarded for his persistence, Rana, standout of Unilab Active Health squad, overcame the challenge of Unilab teammates Mark Anthony Husana and Philip Atento in the 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike and 10 km race.
The 28-year-old Naga City native, the third placer in Tri United 1, clocked two hours, five minutes and 37 seconds with Husana (2:11:00) and Atento (2:13:58) settling for second and third, respectively.
Sharing the spotlight with Rana was Ani de Leon-Brown, who reigned supreme in the women’s Elite race with a time of 2:33:05.
Kristina Beckendorf placed second in 2:34:33. She also claimed the gold in the the women’s 35-39 class.
Juan Carlos Abad and Christianne Nicolle de Vera dominated their respective races in the teens division.
Racing over a course half the distance of the Elite category, the 15-year-old Abad, who hails from Sta. Ana, La Union, timed 1:10:40 for the gold medal in the boys’ 15-16, while 18-year-old De Vera, a varsity swimmer from La Salle, clocked 1:37:13 to rule the girls’ 17-19 category.
Team Santy Barley claimed the team championship with an accumulated time of 27 hours and 15 minutes. Cedelf P. Tupas
Other winners: Sophia Ysabelle Garcia (female 15-16), Joshua Ranullo Ranque (male 17-19) while Elite Age Group winners in the were Mervin Rencel De Los Santos Santiago and Kriska Rose Marzan Sto. Domingo (20-24), Don Berba Velasco and Angelica Pascual Limjoco (25-29), Andrew Estrella Arellano and Nathalia Marie Tan Benipayo (30-34), Edison Salawad Morales(35-39), Rayzon Galdonez and Roque Endaya (40-44), Joevic Gallo Pajarillo and Mariela Janet Martinez Powell (45-49), Jaime Corea Lopez (male 50-54) and Josef Gueta (male 55-above).