Queen Rochelle reigns anew

CEBU, Philippines - Rochelle Tan galvanized her status as Cebu's new triathlon queen after claiming her third straight title via the Cebu leg of the 2012 Century Tuna National Age-group Triathlon Series yesterday at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa.       

Curiously, a miscommunication with the race marshals during the run course cost her a longer time to complete the race.

While dealing with the last discipline of this three-in-one sport, Tan was told by two of the three marshals that she only needed to run a single loop instead of two.

However, when she was approaching the finish line, Tan was told by another marshal that she still lacked one loop so she had to run again. At that time, another marshal on a motorcycle fetched her and dropped her off where she was supposed to run again.

Upon reaching the finish line, Tan was initially told she was disqualified, something that almost got her into tears.

After checking with the technical officials, event organizer Oscar “Boying” Rodriguez, Jr. declared the 18-year-old Tan as the top winner in the female 16-19 class with an official time of two hours, 19 minutes and 46.34 seconds.

Tan was the top finisher in the all-Filipino elite women's category during the XTerra Philippines Off-Road Championships last March 18 in Liloan. Last week, she was the overall winner in the women's division of the first ever Talisay Triathlon.

Casey Uy was a distant second with the time of 2:27:14.21, while Aida Farid wound up third in 2:27:27.90.

It was another great Sunday for the Tans as Rochelle’s dad Tyrone stayed remained undefeated in the men’s 40-44 class and her brother Rainer again stamped his class in relay event.

Tyrone clocked in 1:56:15 followed by Gandi Truya (1:58:03) and Neil Reyes (1:58:28), while Rainer, together with John Arriola and Mary Joy Tabal, came out the fastest in the relay competition.

John Philip Duenas, on the other hand, had a memorable debut in triathlon after topping the men’s 25-29 category with the time of 1:44:57. He edged out Talisay’s top triathlete Kristiane Glendale Lim (1:46:29) as Ralph Martin Sios-e finished third in 1:46:30.

Duenas competed in the same class as television personality Richard Gutierrez, who clocked in two hours and six minutes.

Aside from the Tans, the Jopsons led by power couple Noy and Amale also had a great family affair. Noy ruled the men's 35-39 class in one hour, 50 minutes and 27 seconds, Amale lorded it over in the women's 30-39 with the time of 2:11:53.38, while their daughter Mikele won the girls 6-under.

Real-life couples Merly and Tenggoy Colmenares posted a 1-2 finish in their respective classes, with Merly winning the women’s 40-above title, while Tenggoy placed second to Dan Climaco in the men’s 45-49.

Hannah Galo, despite figuring in a minor accident along the way due to some inconsiderate motorists, managed to go home with the girls 20-29 crown, while Louie Villacin, despite coming off a seven-year hiatus, landed at second in 2:26:13.96.

Elmo Clarabal was the fastest in the men's 30-34 with the time of 1:40:47.27. The rest of the winners were Jebb Cane (men’s 16-19), Jefferson Jabacon (men’s 20-24) and Gianlucca Guidicelli (men's 50-54). - THE FREEMAN