Swim-shy TV host leads Tri United 4 winners

A SHOWBIZ celebrity shone in her debut in the Unilab Active Health (ULAH) Tri United 4 Sunday at Fontana Leisure Park in Clark, Pampanga.

Television host Raelene “Iya” Villania-Arellano bagged the female 25-29 age group championship on her first try at competitive triathlon despite dreading the swim leg of the sprint event.

“I’ve been practicing the past months but was not expecting to win because I still fear swimming,” she said.

The 28-year-old Villania-Arellano pulled off the runaway win in the 600m swim-30K bike-5K run with a time of one hour, 47 minutes and 26 seconds.

“With this performance, I’m looking forward to competing in more triathlon events,” said Villania-Arellano, whose husband, TV host-triathlete Drew Arellano, cheered her on.

Samantha Chua checked in nine minutes later (1:56:27) to cop runner-up honors, followed by Jilliane Caancan (1:59:20).

Adrian Villanueva led the male winners with a 1:28:00 clocking to capture the 18-24 age group championship.

Other age-group winners were: Kimberly Li (1:54:22) in the 18-24 category; Jeric Saclauso (1:31:47) and Richelle Hizon (1:54:12) in 30-34; Paolo Leano (1:31:11) and Camilla Brooks Chua (1:50:31) in 35-39; Leo Mejilla (1:29:36) and Jennifer Soto (1:51:24) in 40-44, David Richmond (1:40:01) in male 45-49; Brigilio Balaba (1:59:51) in male 55-above; and Mariela Martinez Powell (1:50:39) in female 45-above.

Topping the 300m swim-15K bike-2.5K run were  Brent Valelo and Nica Deldio (13-14) and Samuel Ranque and Vicky Deldio (15-17).

More than half of the 636 participants were first-time racers.

“This is the last race for the [Tri United series this year] and the objective is for us to attract new faces to get into the sport in the hope that they will continue racing next year,” said ULAH operating vice president Alex Panlilio. Jasmine W. Payo