Arno Baetz defends Alaska IronKids crown

LAPU-LAPU CITY—Arno Baetz, the 14-year-old Filipino-German, who shed unwanted flab to win the Alaska IronKids Philippines last year, dominated the same event Saturday on a course that began and ended at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa.

And just like last year, Baetz pulled away in the run segment of the race to rule the 13-14 division of the event that drew 174 participants with a time of 31 minutes and 31.8 seconds.

Second in the grueling event made up of a 300-meter swim, nine-kilometer bike and two-km run was Yuan Chiongbian of Cebu City in 32:12.1 with Brent Valelo finishing third in 32:41.7.

“Before, people in school teased me because I’m fat. It was my motivation in cutting down my weight and winning the race,” said Baetz, who is in Grade 10 at the Discovery Bay International School in Hong Kong.

“Now, I’ve gained confidence and become more active in school,” said Baetz.

Baetz zoomed ahead in the foot race after leading Chiongbian by just two seconds after the bike leg.

Nicole Danielle Eijansantos finally topped the girls’ 13-14 division in 34:46.5, beating Justine Lauren Plaza (35:53.7) and Aaliyah Mataragnon (36:24.4).

The 13-year-old from Holy Spirit Quezon City lost her way in the run segment of last year’s race and collapsed due to the heat back in 2012.

In a dramatic twist, Samantha Borlain seized the girls’ 11-12 category in 35:01 at the expense of her younger sister, two-time champion Tara.

Visibly disappointed, the younger Borlain finished the race in tears and was later hugged and consoled by Samantha, who beat Tara for the first time.

“I didn’t really expect the outcome, it’s just for fun,” said the 12-year-old Samantha, who goes to school with her sister at St. Paul Makati. “I waited for Tara to cross and comfort her.”

“I’m happy that she won. That’s the way it is, you win some and you lose some,” said Tara, champion in her age bracket in 2010 and 2012.

Other winners were Juan Miguel Tayag (boys’ 6-8 years old), Justicia Mariearl Tan (girls’ 6-8), Hyonde Keum (boys’ 9-10), Syrah Ruth Uy (girls’ 9-10) and Juan Francisco Baniqued (boys’ 11-12) in the country’s first triathlon for the youth.