Friday, May 22, 2009
Fitness First is first again in Subic triathlon team event
Team Combat of Fitness First, with former national women's triathlon champion and recent Ironman Hawaii finisher Ani de Leon and teammate Dane Cantwell taking the overall first places in the individual age group of both the men's and women's divisions emerged runaway champion in the team event at the recent 16th Subic Bay ITU - International Triathlon.
De Leon submitted a finishing time of 2:33.14 while Cantwell clocked 2 :16.16 to go with the 2:23.27 of Fitness First Country Manager Mark Ellis and Eriberto Carandang's 2:27 : 32 for an accumulated time of 9 : 40 : 31 to second placed team Polo Tri Zoomers' 10:07.04.
David Verlee led his team with his 2:24.00 clocking, fastest in the group composed of Anthony Welsh, JonJon Rufino, and Amanda Marie Carpo while in third place was last year's team champion Herbalife with Ferdinand Catabian, 2:16.56, at the helm together with Jojo Macalintal, Hiroshi Takei, and Reva Magno.
However, in the relay event, Herbalife retained the crown it won last year as its team of Michael Canillo, July Cagungun, and Orly Mariano combined for a winning time of 2:25.12 with the visiting Triathlon Association of Malaysia team, led by Stephanie Chok together with Gary Chong and Rikiguro Shinozuka, taking second place. In third was the Camayan Ocean Adventure team which clocked 2:30.40 to TRIAM's 2:25.54.
The 13 – 15 age category was won by Bacolod 's John Rommel Uy followed by two Malaysian boys while Singapore 's Phan Yong Tin Joy copped the girl's plum. Spring junior and adult champions are Hong Kong 's Cheung Tsz Hei, Johanna Pe Benito, Jonjon Rufino and Stephanie Chok, respectively
Top overall finishers in the women's individual age group competition were de Leon, Carpo, 2:39.48, and 35 to 39 age group champion Rizzo Tangan who clocked 2:43.05 while runners-up to Cantwell in the men's side were Catabian and former national team member Noel Salvador in 2:20.44.l
Other age group winners in the event sponsored by SBMA, SPEEDO, Gatorade, PSC, David's Salon, Globe Telecoms, Fitness First, Asian centre for Insulation, Vitwater, Sunkist, and Rudy Project, were Jefferson Tabacon, 17 to 19 group in 2:43.59, Emmanuel Rodil , 20 to 24, in 2:38.17, duathlete August Benedicto, 25 to 29 in 2:23.03, Cantwell, 30 to 34, Salvador , 40 to 44, Welsh, 45 to 49 in 2:33.05, Alvin Alindogan, 50 to 54 in 2:31.26, Dr. Oscar Escudero Jr., 55 to 59 in 3:03.45, and Brigilio Balaba, 60 & over in 3:25.17.
The women's side had de Leon taking the 30 to 34 crown, Fiona Ottiger, 40 to 44 in 2:50.03, and Tangan, 35 to 39.
Senator Pia Cayetano, a staunch supporter of triathlon, placed second in her age group with a time of 3:02:40. .
“This was the biggest field ever in the team event of the Subic Bay International Triathlon and it shows the growth of triathlon as a serious sport in the country, “said TRAP president Tom Carrasco Jr. after the race that had Philippine Star, DZSR, and Solar Sports together with radio sponsors – Jam 88.3, Wave 89.1, Magic 89.9, 99.5 RT, and 103.5 Max FM.