Rana faces tough Tri United title defense tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines — Last season’s series champion Benjamin Rana starts his title defense when the grueling Tri United triathlon series gets going Sunday morning at Dungaree Beach in Subic Bay Freeport.

Rana, though, faces tough competition in the 1.5K swim-40K bike-10K run race with 2013 Tri United 4 champion Mark Anthony Hosana and Philippine Team standouts Nikko Huelgas and John Chicano among the contenders in the men’s elite division.

A slew of champions also head the women’s field with former Olympian Radka Vodickova of the Czech Republic racing alongside national team bets Monica Torres and Kim Mangrobang, 2013 Tri United 2 winner Anna Stroh and 2013 Tri United 3 topnotcher Ani De Leon-Brown.

The series launched by BikeKing and Unilab Active Health also features the Teen Sprint Distance category (16-17 age group) with Vicky Deldio, Jimmuel Patilan and Samuel Ranque leading the favored bets.

Nine sports clubs will also fight for top honors in the Team Competition of the event that drew 700 participants.

The next leg of the series is set on July 6 at San Juan, Batangas, followed by the Tri United 3 on Oct. 26 at Subic Bay and Tri United 4 in November.   Jasmine W. Payo