Marines dominate Puerto Princesa boat races
PUERTO PRINCESA—Philippine Marines paddlers, slicing the calm waters with precision, swamped their rivals in the 1st Puerto Princesa Canoe, Kayak and Dragonboat Races at Baywalk here.
Reaping the benefits of a rigid eight-month training, the Marines routed the field in the premier men’s 20-seater crew to cap their domination of the races that lured 15 teams.
Earlier, the Marines bested rival Philippine Navy in the finals of the mixed 20-seater and women’s 10-seater to the cheers of hundreds of spectators who lined the clean breakwater.
Duplicating their three-title romp in the Boracay international races recently, the Marines covered the 300-meter race in 1 minute and 11.82 seconds, nearly two boat lengths ahead of the Boracay All Stars (1:18.29), followed by Navy (1:19.11) and PDRT Fireblades (1:21.24).
The Marines were pushed to the limit in the women’s 10-seater event, where they timed 1:28.18, nipping Navy (1:28.50). Boracay All Stars timed 1:30.45 for third placed followed by Pyros (1:41.24).
It was also a close finish in the mixed 20-seater event with the Marines clocking 1:21.84, PDRT (1:22.29), Boracay All Stars (1:22.66) and Navy (1:23.01).
Navy struck in triyak, clocking 2:05.74 to overpower Katabom (2:14.51) and Pyros (2:26.10), and in touring doubles with a time of 1:54.93, routing Boracay All Stars (2:03.09) and Pyros (2:04.07).
Danny Funelas topped the canoe single in 2:33.08, whipping Jonathan Ruz (2:35.46) and Jairus Molina (2:44.19).
The kayak single title went to Alex Generalo, who timed 2:27.73, way ahead of Alvin Generalo (2:28.37), Edward Galang (2:42.24) and Daniel Ortega (2:43.08).
The event, hosted by the city government led by Mayor Lucilo Bayron and organized by the Philippine Canoe-Kayak Federation headed by Jonne Go was supported by Globe, Smart, Cignal TV, AR Lustre Construction, BCT Construction, Sunlight Guest Hotel and Itoy’s Coffee Haus.
Karl Bayron, the mayor’s executive assistant and the event’s officer-in-charge, thanked Go for bringing the event here.
