Top three finishers in the Boys’ 13-14 category in Alaska Iron Kids. Photo by Randolph Leongson
SUBIC—Juan Francisco Baniqued finished his youth triathlon career in style, topping the Boys’ 13 to 14 category via a photo finish in the 2017 Alaska IronKids Saturday morning at Remy Field here.
Baniqued, 14, had to work harder to defend his title, beating second placer Clifford Pusing at the tape by just a millisecond as they both completed the course in 42 minutes and 31 seconds.
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“It was a first for me to win in that manner but I’m happy that I still won,” said Baniqued. “I felt I wanted to win a Grand Slam again, just like I did when I was 12.”
Baniqued had a slim one-second cushion in the swim course, finishing the leg in 5:52, but fell behind to Pusing in the bike course by three seconds. Baniqued picked up the pace in the run course, finishing the eight laps in 12:33 to once again bag the crown.
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Juan Baniqued still leading in the Boys’ 13-14 category. #AlaskaIronKids pic.twitter.com/DNZ07ISDjV
— Randolph B. Leongson (@RLeongsonINQ) March 10, 2017
Ruzzel Mikolai Villaraza placed third in 44:21.
In the girls’ 13 to 14 category, Karen Andrea Manayon dominated the field, finishing the race in just 48 minutes and 27 seconds.
“I’m really happy that my training bore fruit,” she said.
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Kristana Erica Derrada was a distant second at 51:38, followed by Angelina Powell at 52:57.
Other winners include Zedrick James Borja in the boys’ 11 to 12 category, finishing the course in 33:18, followed by Glendwyn Giles Mariscotes (35:34) and Daniel Nazarro (35:42).
Moira Frances Erediano took home the tiara in the girls’ 11 to 12 category, completing the race in 34:50. Alison Ann Noble placed second (37:57) and Natazsa Alexia Lozada third (38:19).
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Michael Gabriel Lozada topped the boys’ 9 to 10 category with a time of 24:26, followed by Dayshaun Karl Ramos (25:15) and Matt Giancarlo Molino (25:46).
Kira Ellis paced the girls’ 9 to 10 category anew, wrapping the race in just 25:46. Angel Faith Quidasol placed second (27:58) and Alessandra Christina Baluyot at third (28:34).
Gabriel Ethan Gaw led the boys’ 6 to 8 category with a clocking of 16:18, followed by Rafael Inigo Jopson (16:19) and Rylee Marasigan (16:56).
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Kyle Enialle Toledana charged in the girls’ 6 to 8 category with a time of 18:45, while Jelaine Margaux Manansala got second (20:11) and Chantal Isabelle Calolot at third (22:15).
Meanwhile, 360 Fitness topped the Relay Short event with 15:54, followed by Eagles Tri-Team (18:22) and Team Borlain-Bagas (36:39).
TLTG won the Relay Long event with a time of 21:06, followed by Trinamin (21:23) and The Learning House & Intellikids (29:19).
Kids from 14 years old and below showed tremendous willpower in finishing the race, displaying their mettle in the swim-bike-run course.
Some commendable performances included Daniel Louw completing the course in the boys’ 9 to 10 category despite crying all race long, while six-year-old AJ Co refused to give up and finished his final lap to place 10th in the boys’ 6 to 8 category.
The IronKids, produced and organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. and sponsored by Alaska Milk, provided a fitting run-up to the Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 set Sunday.
After the youngsters strut their stuff, the Superbods Underpants Run was staged with some triathletes joining the race that and ended at Subic Yacht Club.
A tight race is also expected in the Ironman 70.3 which lured a record field of nearly 1,000, led by reigning men’s titlist Craig Alexander of Australia and defending women champion Caroline Steffen of Sweden. —WITH A REPORT FROM ROY LUARCA