Cebuanos perform well in Ironman Event

CEBU, Philippines - All the hardwork and training paid off as all but one Cebuanos finished the 70.3 Ironman Philippines 2010 in Camarines Sur last Sunday.

Last year’s top Pinoy finisher Noy Jopson may have failed to duplicate his feat but could still hold his head up high as he landed the third best among the pro Pinoys with a time of 4:54.32. It was Neil Catiil of Cagayan de Oro City who emerged as the top Filipino placer followed by Arland Macasieb.

Jopson also trailed Macasieb in the men’s 35-39 class, while the two other Cebuanos who competed in the same age-bracket as Jopson in Eugene Sanchez and Trino Trasmonte also had a decent showing. Sanchez landed 23rd in 5:31:57 and Trasmonte at 28th with a 5:45:56 clocking.

Ralph Martin Sios-e came out fourth in 5:22:14 behind Catiil.

Anna Maria Neric, the lone female Cebuana who joined the individual battle, placed sixth in the women’s 45-49 with the time 7:46:19.

Former top junior swimmer Ralph Arche wound up 18th in the 25-29 with the time of 5:51:01, Frederick Pahanonot finished 35th in 6:37:14, Kristian Cabahug at 33rd in 6:31:43 and Cleve Villanueva at 46th in 8:06:44.

In the 30-34 category, Elmo Clarabal wound up eighth with the time of 4:59:20, Raymond Reel Bontol placed 25th in 5:39:57, Irineo Cases Jr. at 33rd in 5:58:33 and Siegfred Zarex Tura at 63rd in 6:50:28.

Jose Mari Colmenares also survived the gruelling battle, placing 22nd in the 40-44 class with a 5:57:51 clocking and Tyrone Tan at 31st in 6:10:08.

Carlo Bacalla came out 30th in the 45-49 bracket with the time of 07:18:35, while Jose Ricardo Dizon placed fifth in the 50-54 class with a 6:35:25 clocking. (FREEMAN)