Matthew Hermosa running to the finish line at Saturday’s Alaska IronKids. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
CEBU CITY— Matthew Hermosa had a smashing debut in the age group of the Alaska IronKids, winning the gold medal in the boys 13-14 bracket in just his first try Saturday at Shangri-La Mactan here.
The 13-year-old from Paref Springdale School clocked in at 35:08.33 in the 16.4-kilometer swim-bike-run course and he admitted that he felt the pressure of competing in his home province.
“There was pressure earlier, even until the start of the race it was still there,” said Hermosa, who hails from Talisay City, in Filipino. “I overcame it by using it as motivation, by smiling, and I was happy because my whole family is here.”
Hermosa has bagged three gold medals in total in his IronKids stint, but this was his first in the age group.
Hermosa started out slow and came out of the 400-meter swimming course at fifth then worked his way up to second at the end of the 12-kilometer bike race.
Trailing Go for Gold teammate Earol Belonguil, Hermosa pounced on a late opportunity to overtake his older contemporary to become Cebu’s champion in the age group.
“During the run, I was still at second so I decided to pace myself where I sprint, then rest, but I saw my opponents getting tired so that was when I pushed myself going to the U-turn and eventually the finish line,” said Hermosa.
“I’m just ecstatic and grateful for this win.”