Echavez scores 3-peat in Olango Challenge

CEBU, Philippines - Loren Dale Echavez has accomplished something she thought she never could - a grandslam feat in the Olango Challenge via its sixth edition held for the first time at the Crimson Resort in Lapu-lapu City last Saturday.

The University of San Carlos (USC) varsity collected her third title in a row in the women's 6K division of the annual open water swimming contest with the time of one hour, 38 minutes and 54.81 seconds. She got P10,000 cash and a gift certificate for an overnight stay at Crimson Hotel for her efforts.

Romylin Nina Ignacio of the Cebu Blue Marlins (CBM) settled for second place honors with a 1:59:56.76 clocking, while Trine Cañeda wound up third with the time of two hours and 29.16 seconds.

In the men's side, Keith Ocampo, competing under the banner of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI), registered the fastest time of one hour, 38 minutes and 17.66 seconds followed by the 14-year-old Michael Ichiro Kong of CBM in 1:39:21.13. The debuting Jeremie Danserau-Lemieux took the third spot in 2:03:56.59.

The CBM tankers, on the other hand, emerged as the overall champion in the team event with a total of 145 points from the six categories contested in the charity race for the benefit of the indigent children of Olango Island in Mactan.

(RAFI) placed second with 119 points followed by Shangri-la Resort and Spa with 88 points and  Imperial Palace with 52 points.

Rounding up the top 10 finishers were the Negros Oriental Blue Dolphins (45), Train (29), Cebu Parklane TriTeam (22), VECO (20), and Club Natation Montreal-Nord (16).

In the women's 2K catevory, Beth May Arellano took the top spot in 40 minutes and 22.84 seconds followed by Negros Oriental's Diane Megan Ong (43:06.41) and CBM's Daniel Mae Ballesteros (43:22.16).

The top three in the men's class were Jesse Arriola Jr.'s Cebu Parklane TriTeam (35:04.98), Aaron Grant Embuscado (39:38.02) and RAFI'S Lister Ray Tungala (39:48.91). — (FREEMAN)