Amberger, Gentle top Bohol 5i50 triathlon

Australians Josh Amberger and Ashleigh Gentle leaned on their strong starts to rule the centerpiece pro division in the 2014 Safeguard Active 5i50 Triathlon in Panglao, Bohol yesterday.

Amberger, who placed sixth in the Ironman 70.3 St. Croix and fourth in the Boise edition this year, clocked one hour, 55 minutes and 54 seconds to beat compatriot Eric Watson (2:01:46) for the men’s crown and the top purse of $1,500.

The 24-year-old Amberger had a 16:19 clocking in the 1.5-kilometer swim leg, 55:38 time in the 40K bike stage and 39:36 in the 10K run.

Watson rallied in the run stage with a 37:14 clocking but couldn’t overhaul Amberger’s big cushion in the first two events. He settled for $937.  Michael Murphy was third in 2:04:20 worth $637.50.

In the women’s side, Gentle hurdled her first big test this year with flying colors, clocking 2:02:00 to beat another Australian, veteran Belinda Granger, by 13 minutes in the event organized and produced by Sunrise Events Inc.

The 23-year-old Gentle timed 18:20 in the swim leg, 1:02:32 in the bike stage and an impressive 37:00 in the run leg of the event which drew 667 triathletes from 28 countries.

Granger was second in 2:15.00 while local bet Monica Torres, who moved up to the pro class after ruling the elite division in the Century Tuna 5i50 the last two years, salvaged third in 2:15:46.

Banjo submitted 2:09:13 to top the elite category worth P24,000 while Lorhiz Lopez ruled the ladies’ elite section with a 2:36:48 clocking, also worth P24,000.