Tan leads winners of duathlon event

CEBU, Philippines – Duathlon newbies rule the Cebu leg of Columbia Trailmasters Duathlon Series held within Central Cebu National Park in Balamban yesterday.

The Trailmasters has a run-bike-run sequence.   The Cebu leg is an 80 percent off-road trail.

Organized by outdoor apparel and equipment brand Columbia Sportswear, the first Trailmasters in the Visayas has gathered roughly 300 participants, ranging from mountain bikers to seasoned runners.

Executive Category

Eighteen-year-old Rochelle Tan clocked in two hours and 35 minutes (2:35), win-ning the executive - women's individual. 

(The executive category covers 5K run, 20K bike and another 5K run.)

It was a sweet victory for Tan, who is a promising swimmer of Cebu Doctors University who dabbles on joining marathons, since it was her first duathlon participa-tion.

Tan outwitted runners-up Phindy Honasan (2:37) and Irene Robles (2:57).

Seasoned cross-country biker Jezan Baldomar of the Dalaguete Bikers Associa-tion made a memorable entry to duathlon after finishing first in the executive-men's In-dividual, 1:15, outplaying Romeo Enorina, 1:26:00, and Nilo Barbalose, 1:26:05.

The team, anchored by Jerome Fajardo, 1:44, made a victorious finish in the ex-ecutive relay category, defeating teams anchored by Maurice Fiel, 1:48, and Pamela Apuhin, 2:03.

Elite Category

Triathlete Joseph Miller is another newbie who made in the ranks of the elite -men's individual top finishers.   

(The elite category covers 10K run-30K bike-10k run.)

Team MFX's Miller, whose expertise lies in cross-trail biking, clocked in 2:34, only a minute before Christopher Rodriguez crossed the finish line. Elmo Clarabal came in third, 2:40.

Twenty-five-year-old Lorhiz Echavez of Team BloodRed zoomed her way to the finish line at 3:43.

Echavez is also a triathlete whose expertise is in biking. This skill was put to a test during the downhill trail from Brgy. Ga-as to Brgy. Tungkay. Yet, she passed it in flying colors.

R.O.X-sponsored athlete Merlita Arias Dunkin, on the other hand, ranked second with the time of 4:03.   The relay team composed of Joebert Carolino, Charlie Ber-berio and Barry Ragsajo sure has a reason to toast for teamwork after finishing at 2:42, beating the Ralph Pilapil-anchored team, 3:40.

The first Columbia Trailmasters Duathlon Cebu leg is an echo to what has tran-spired during its first staging in Nuvali Estate in Sta. Rosa, Laguna last June. 

The event is co-presented by ROX and supported by Res/Toe/Run, Adventure Café, Balamban Local Government, Gatorade, Nature's Spring, Hero Sausages, Marin, Vetta, SH+, Saris, Cebu Pacific, Julie's Bakeshop, Thirsty, the Primer Group and in part-nership with Front Runner, Onesport, Dispatch, Total Fitness, PinoyMTBiker, Takbo.ph, The FREEMAN, Cebu Daily News, and NU107.  (FREEMAN)