ROBENO Javier and Mirasol Abad showed yet again that they’re the country’s best duathletes by scoring contrasting wins yesterday in the 2013 Philippine National Duathlon Championships at Remy Field in Subic Bay Freeport.
Javier came out strong in the final run leg to overcome a tough challenge from John Chicano and Ryan Mendoza and rule the men’s Elite event with a time of one hour, 54 minutes and 48 seconds.
Abad had an easier time as she sped off from the get-go to dominate the 10K run-40K bike-5K-run women’s competition in 2:21:49.
“I tried to keep pace with Chicano in the bike leg, but in the last run, that’s when I pulled away,” Javier said. “I plan to keep on training hard for the bigger races next year.”
Chicano wound up third in 1:55:57 after getting hit by cramps late in the race. Ryan Mendoza, the country’s former No. 1, overtook him and finished 35 seconds ahead in 1:55:22.
Abad’s closest pursuer, Mary Pauline Fornea, checked in more than two minutes behind in 2:23:56, while Rowena Valdez wound up a distant third in 2:36:51.
Jeric Buhian, a 16-year-old national developmental pool member, ruled the 5K run-20K bike-2.5K junior sprint in 1:02:26.
Cebuano racers Justin Chiongbian (40:16.06) and Shaia Ruth Uy (46:13.83) won the boys’ and girls’ mini-sprint.
Triathlon Association of the Philippines president Tom Carrasco Jr. said the impressive form of the young racers will allow them to inject youth in the current national pool.
“We will review the performances of our national athletes because we plan to revamp the squad next year with emphasis on youth and discipline,” said Carrasco. Jasmine W. Payo
Other age-group winners: Men—Raven Archer (18-19), Carlo Maniebo (20-24), Christopher Iblan (25-29), Francis Carlo Serrano (30-34), Dejan Glavnik (35-39), Raul Gaerlan (40-44), Jamie Leather (45-49), Arsenio Malibiran (50-54), Josef Gueta (55-59) and Killy Kunimoto (60-over); Women—Humma Saeed (20-29), Josette Tanghal (30-39) and Lyka Leather (40-over).