Echavez bags title of Panglao Triathlon

CEBU, Philippines- With very little preparation for the event, Lorhiz Echavez banked on experience to win the 1st Panglao Business Club Triathlon in Panglao, Bohol the other day.

Echavez, who just got back from Darwin, Australia to accompany her sister Loren Dale and long-time boyfriend Mendel Lopez in the just-concluded Arafura Games, won the women's open action.

Echavez ruled the battle with an hour, 54 minutes and eight seconds, up ahead against returning Rochelle Tan who ended in 2:07.19 as Amale Mendoza-Jopson wound up third with 2:09.08.

Amale's husband, Noy, made up for her loss by dominating the men's open action with 1:43.14 clocking as Sugbu Triathlon's president Ralph Arche came out second in his 1:49.30 while Elmo Clarabal was third with 1:50.16.

On Rochelle Tan's part, it was her dad Tyrone who got the title for their family through the men's 40-49 class.

Tan outsmarted Tenggoy Colmenares with 1:58.07 as against the latter's 2:02.47 while Neil Reyes was third with a time of 2:04.07.

The 50-above class saw Simon Arizola on top with 2:03.50 while Ritchie Mataragnon claimed the 30-39 class with a time of 1:58.07 as Emmanuel Comendador went away with the 20-29 title through his 1:52.41 effort and Gavin Solijon took the 19-under title with a time of 1:53.38.

Lovelyneil Casidsid won the women's 20+ crown over Merly Colmenares as Rachel Ngo settled for third.

Virgil Fuentes won mountainbike action while Rosalito Albina and Michael Vincent Sencio were at second and third spot respectively.

Glenn Flores came out the fastest in the Bohol Open class, posting 2:15.34.

The trio of Alexandrite Duroy, Marcelo Sague and Desei Castañares, who compose the Bohol Dolphins Swim Club Incorporated, outsmarted the two United Track and Field Enthusiasts squads in the relay action of the SugbuTriathlon-organized event.

In another development, Ralph Arche who spearheads Sugbu Triathlon admits knowing a certain Jobol Sereño and acknowledges him as a member of Cebu's umbrella organization of triathlon, but said Sugbu Triathlon has nothing to do with the flop of a running event here the other day.

Arche said, the core of Sugbu Triathlon was in Bohol for the Panglao action and it was only their arc that was utilized for that supposed fund-raiser event at the Ayala Center-Cebu Terraces.

"Sugbu Triathlon does not have any involvement in the run for Japan held the other day in Ayala. We are in Bohol for the 1st Panglao Tri for a Cause. Our start/finish arc was just borrowed," Arche said earlier through a text message.

Arche then further told The Freeman that he had already spoken to Sereño and said the latter said he was only there to help in his individual capacity but not the organizer.

Arche did not elaborate if they will penalize or ban Sereño from the group if proven to be the cause of the trouble but only spoke in behalf of the entire Sugbu Tri group that their existence is all for the love of sports and not for profit and that they would not do anything to destroy their reputation.

"While we admit welcoming all groups and triathletes who wants to be part of Sugbu Tri, we have always been careful with our moves and make sure that every event we organized is being planned well and not just a "fly-by-night" thing. I hope or group will not be dragged by any controversy," Arche ended. (FREEMAN NEWS)