BAGUIO City’s Jarwyn Banatao leaned on a solid bike performance to bag the men’s crown in the National Duathlon Championships Sunday in Iloilo City.
After a tight contest with early favorite Emmanuel Comendador and Requi Trupa in the first 8.5K run, Banatao pulled away from the lead pack in the second transition of the 40K bike leg.
Banatao sustained his four-minute edge in the final 6.5K run for a final time of two hours and 17 seconds as Bohol’s Comendador also got slowed down by stomach cramps.
Comendador finished a distant second with a 2:04:28 clocking, while Cebu’s Jolan Olmilla rounded out the podium finishers in 2:04:59.
The women’s race turned out to be tighter as national team standout Mirasol Abad had to deal with Miscelle Gilbuena until the final run leg.
Abad recorded a time of 2:22:47 to defend her title, while Gilbuena checked in 49 seconds later at 2:23:36.
Iloilo’s Alexandra Dumaran finished with a time of 2:30:13 for the bronze.
Teen champion Andrew Kim Remolin also ruled anew in the junior elite race sprint distance after edging John Caleb Barlin, while Karen Andrea Manayon dominated the girls’ side.
Jelsie Sabado and Jero Jaro Matthew topped the 20-above sprint divisions of the race organized for the redevelopment of the Iloilo River. Jasmine W. Payo