Benedicto powers to Tri United 3 Elite crown

August Benedicto conquered the toughest leg of the series again to keep his Elite male title in the recent Tri United 3 race that kicked off at Acea Resort at Subic Freeport, Zambales, and wound up at Alviera in Porac, Pampanga.

Benedicto breasted the tape in four hours and 48 minutes to emerge as the runaway winner in the punishing 1.9K swim-90K bike-21K run  event. His closest pursuer checked in 16 minutes later.

But the veteran triathlete didn’t dominate all the way as his Unilab Active Health teammate Benjamin Rana and Ben Regan paced the swim leg.

“I was behind a few competitors coming from the swim, but I managed to overtake them,” said Benedicto.

As Benedicto surged in the bike and run legs, the early leaders fell behind with CamSur Tri Team’s Billy Biag snatching second with a time of 5:04:16. Rana settled for third in a 5:07:23.

Katelyn Kearney also copped a title outright as the lone participant in the Elite female race, posting a time of 7:17:15.

Mervin Santiago (18-24) ruled the long distance male event along with Robinson Esteves (25-29), Jethro Karl Ramos (30-34), Jefferson Valdez (35-39), Ernie Ybanez (40-44), Peter Gonzales (45-49), Frank Lacson (50-54) and Thomas Kuhne (55-above).

Also ruling the distaff race were Raelene Arellano (25-29), Chloe Ong (30-34), Laarni Paredes (35-39), Lezette Albarote (40-44) and Bernadette Tan (45-above).

CamSur Tri captured the team title, while Team Herbalife ruled the team competition.

The series’ Tri United 4 fires off on Nov. 22 at Fontana at Clark Freeport in Pampanga.

Other gold winners in the the 1K swim-60K bike-10K run side event: Male—Luis Jose Embate (18-24), Joseph Kennedy Salcedo (25-29), Jeremiah Isip (30-34), George Vilog (35-39), Jason Brian Marquez (40-44), Frederick Mendiola (45-49), Mike Co (50-54), Chito Generoso (55-above); Female—Lorena Agnas (18-24), Charmaine Lazaro (25-29), Anne Catherine Hernandez (30-34), Anais Lapid (35-39), Nikki De Guzman (40-44), Tess Rodriquez (45-above).