CEBU, Philippines - Jesse Arriola, Jr. did not show any signs of slowing down coming from an injury as he emerged as the overall champion in the Oceanman@Portofino last Saturday at Portofino Resort in Mactan Island.
Arriola, a student of the University of San Carlos (USC), topped the male division with the best time of 15 minutes and 43 seconds.
Ian Gerard Rusiana wound up second with a 16:19 clocking, while Andre Pacheco of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu finished third with the time of 16:20.
Another Carolinian in Karmel Alyssa Ocampo timed 19:30 to reign supreme in the female category followed by University of Bohol's Precious Ginn Lopena (21:09) and USC's Bianca Marie Diaz (21:39).
On the other hand, three athletes from SHS-Ateneo ruled their respective divisions in Johann Mathew Tubesa (11-12), Jezreel Tan (13-14) and Edric Justin Lim (19-under).
Tubesa clocked in 17:38, while Jason Ginn Lopena placed second in 21:06. Another SHS-AdC bet, Paolo Dizon, came out third in 21:11.
In 13-14, Tan outsmarted UB's Donald Jack Gibb and Jason Lorenz Lopena with the time of 17 minutes and 20 seconds, while Lim led SHS-Ateneo's clean sweep in the 19-under bracket with the time of 16:50 followed by Joseph Christian Chua (17:16) and Angelo Dizon (19:22). Ana Patricia Loren was unopposed in the girls side, completing the race in 23 minutes and 27 seconds.
Junngie Canedo and Trifon Tan were unopposed in 30-39 and 40-49 categories. Canedo registered the time of 22:31, while Tan clocked in 23:16. - THE FREEMAN