Juan Francisco Baniqued. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
LAPU-LAPU CITY — Juan Francisco Baniqued and Tara Borlain capped off their careers in the youth circuit and once again topped the 2017 Alaska IronKids on Saturday morning at Shangri-La Mactan here.
Baniqued edged Joseff Miguel Quirino in a photo finish in the boys’ 13-14 division as the two clocked an identical 38:50 to finish the swim-bike-run course.
Photo finish for the boys! pic.twitter.com/UTmXTtnQX1
— Randolph B. Leongson (@RLeongsonINQ) August 4, 2017
Quirino closed in on Baniqued after falling behind by over a minute, making his chase in the run course with a time of 14:18.
But the reigning champion’s cushion was enough to get him past the finish line by just a millisecond to claim his fourth gold in Cebu.
Adrian Thomas Dionisio placed third at 38:58
Meanwhile, Tara Borlain extended her dynasty in the girls’ 13-14 category, running away with the crown with a time of 41:34
The 14-year-old slowly pulled away from the field, clocking 6:27 in the swim, 20:19 in the bike, before putting an exclamation with her 14:50 time in the run course.
Tara Borlain stays on top of the girls! pic.twitter.com/3R3IFf5jsd
— Randolph B. Leongson (@RLeongsonINQ) August 4, 2017
Nicole Marie Del Rosario was distant second at 45:21, while Marielle Estreba was at third with a 45:46 clocking.
Hyonde Keum topped the boys’ 11-12 category as he finished the race in 35:28. Following him are Glendwyn Giles Mariscotes (36:22) and Matthew Justine Hermosa (36:40).
Moira Frances Erediano won the girls’ 11-12 category, clocking in 34:25 to lead the field. Sophia Psalm Belican placed second (34:32) and Jeanna Mariel Cañete third (35:03).
Beboy Dolen bested the boys’ 9-10 category with his time of 24:29, with John Christian Pabuaya (27:21) and Juan Alessandro Suarez (27:22) chasing him.
Kira Ellis remained on top in the girls’ 9-10 category with her 28:16 clocking, outlasting second-placer Alexei Gunhuran (28:41) and third-placer Franchezka Borlain (30:04).
Rafael Jopson conquered the boys’ 6-8 category with his time of 17:38, followed by Van Wincy Pagnanawon (18:02) and Ryonde Kum (19:57).
Kyle Enialle Toledana paced the girls’ 6-8 category as she clocked 21:18, as she was chased by Eleora Caelle Avanzado (22:50) and Mireille Dee (25:21).
Team Cebu protected the home floor as they won the Relay for 10-14 category with their time of 23:24, followed by two teams from TLTG/Omega 1 (24:26) and TLTG/ Omega 2 (25:16).