First Hunat Sugbu Triathlon Lopez, Biagan rule

CEBU, Philippines - Former national team members Abet Biagan and Lorhiz Echavez-Lopez engraved their names as champions in Oslob's first triathlon event ever, the Parklane Cebu International Hotel's Hunat Sugbu Triathlon yesterday.

Biagan came out only third during the 1.5-kilometer open water swim, but he overtook one of the early leaders in the transition area of the 40km bike course.

The multi-titled Biagan, who had been on-and-off in triathlon racing scene and is currently the conditioning coach of the ALA boxers, outsmarted the other frontliners on the bike part and then held on to his lead in the 10km run.

The Fish18 Sport and Vellum Cycles-sponsored Biagan completed the grueling race of endurance, stamina and mental toughness in two hours, 14 minutes and 25 seconds.

Elmo Clarabal of Equicredit wound up second with a 2:24:19 clocking, while Ralph Arche caught everyone by surprise after clinching the third spot in 2:25.

In the distaff side, Echavez-Lopez reigned supreme after edging out the vastly-improved Nia Durano-Aldeguer by only two minutes and 16 seconds.  Echavez-Lopez touched down the finish line in 2:46:16, while Durano-Aldeguer came in at 2:48:32. Parklane Tri Team's Hannah Lou Galo took the third place honors in 2:57:22.

In the age-group categories, Alan Ting, one of Parklane's Board of Directors, led the cast of top finishers after posting the best time of 2:26:37 in the men's 35-39 bracket.

The rest of the top performers were Natalia Joy Sy (18-124), Raymond Reel Bontol (25-29), Franklin Echevarria (30-34), June Marq Ocana (35-39), Jose Ricardo Dizon (50-above), Cary Marlowe Remotigi (40-44), and Ricardo Paulo Yusay (45-49). The other results as well as in the relay event are still being withheld for verification as of this writing yesterday.

In the open sprint race, Kristiane Lim of Team Parklane prevailed over a slew of talented youngsters such as Yuan Chiongbian and Ralph So for the top spot, while Aaliyah Mataragnon stole the thunder in the girls division.

Lim finished the sprint race in 1:42:01, just 18 seconds ahead of Chiongbian as So grabbed the third spot with a time of 1:42:41.

Unfortunately, Yuan's big brother Justin Chiongbian, who just won gold medal in the Cold Storage Triathlon in Singapore last week, had to be rushed back to the city for further check-up after he collapsed at the finish line due to exhaustion in his quest to top the open division.

On the other hand, Mataragnon, a mainstay of the Magic Stationary Production, claimed her second sprint victory after she outclassed the equally-promising Shaia Uy. Mataragnon clocked in 1:49:32, while Uy registered 1:55:14. Lovelineil Casidsid, who is still recuperating from an injury, is just as happy as the rest after landing at third place. (FREEMAN)