Chicano at the forefront of local hopefuls aiming high in Asian Elite 5150

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/SEA GAMES POOL

John Leerams Chicano gears up for a fierce battle against some of the region’s top racers as he banners the local cast in the men’s Asian Elite category of the first Black Arrow Express 5150 set on Sunday in Subic.

Chicano clocked 2:03:06 in topping the division in last year’s 5150 event, also in the country’s premier triathlon capital, with the national team mainstay confident of pulling off another romp with a better time in the Olympic distance of 1.5k swim, 40K-bike and 10K run.

Also vying in the Asian Elite are Augusto Benedicto, Raymond Torii, Jorry Ycong, Paul Jumamil and Leonard Rondina, all eyeing a podium finish in one of the events featured in Black Arrow Express’ first triathlon organized and produced by Sunrise Events, Inc.

Chicano, who also scored a rare 5150 three-peat in 2013, actually placed fourth in the overall ranking last year, even besting the times of a number of bets in the men’s pro side topped by Sam Betten of Australia.

The event has also drawn participants from Great Britain, Japan, France, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Guatemala, India, Italy, New Zealand, Malaysia, Norway, Russia, Portugal and Vietnam.

Betten, meanwhile, goes for a fourth straight 5150 crown but expects a tougher challenge this time from compatriots Mitch Robins and Dan Brown, Jakub Langhammer of the Czech Republic and American Tim Linn.

Dimity Lee Duke, who snapped a pair of heartbreakers with a big victory last year, is also in for a rough outing against Guam’s Manami Iijima and Leanne Szeto of Hong Kong in the women’s pro side.

Keen competition is also seen in various age categories.