Hugo is new Xterra king South African pro foils Allen's grandslam bid

CEBU, Philippines - Allen started fast, coming out of  the 1.5-kilometer open water swim in only eight minutes and 57 seconds followed by South Africans Bradley Weiss and Hugo.

Allen stayed on top of the heap in the early goings of the 36 km mountainbike action only to make some bad judgements that saw him crashing in the first loop of the two-loop course. Compounding his woes, Allen suffered a flat tire that brought heavy damage on his historic grandslam campaign.

Hugo took advantage of the situation although he was a bit worried in the run part covering 10 kilometers as humidity becomes almost unbearable. He, however, hung on tough to snare the coveted men's crown he missed last year.

Hugo touched down the finish line with the best time of two hours, 48 minutes and 48 seconds, while Weiss, his training buddy, wound up second with a 2:56:39 clocking. Allen was a distant third under the pro division with the time of 3:21:52 although it was Filipino elite back-to-back champion Joseph Miller who finished third overall.

Hugo was humble in victrory saying that it wasn't one sweet revenge over Allen as they didn't get to race head-to-head because of Allen's mishaps.

"It would have been more challenging if Ben (Allen) and I raced head-to-head. I saw Ben crashing. I also got worried on him and hope he's okay, but I also have to keep on going and win this race. I feel like a rockstar here," said Hugo.

In the women's side, Renata Bucher, popularly known as the "Swiss Miss", felt good after regaining the crown she lost to Lesley Paterson in 2013.

Bucher topped the race by just a short margin over Carina Wasle. Bucher clocked in 3:24:59, only a few seconds ahead of Wasle, who came in at 3:25:18. Mieko Carey placed third in 3:27:34.

"I thought Jacqui (Slack) was the one to beat. She was so fast in the swim, but I just tried to do my best. This race is harder than I thought and I'm happy I won," said Bucher after claiming her  second Xterra Philippines plum.

In the all-Filipino elite category, Cebu-based Joseph Miller was only fourth in the swim, but sped up in the bike portion and sustained his momentum in the run part to defend his title spiced up by a third place finish overall.

"I was really a bit disappointed with my swim, but thank God I was able to catch up with those ahead of me.I take my victory as a signal that it's really about time to go pro.This is it," said Miller, who submitted the fastest time of  three hours, 11 minutes and 58 seconds.

Franklin Peñalosa finished second with the time of 3:30:37, while Jefferson Tabacon landed at third in 3:39:45.

In the distaff side, Joyette Jopson reigned supreme with the time of  five hours and 25 minutes followed by Noemi Andrea Galeos (5:26:06), while Cebuana Cianyl Jamae Gonzalez wound up third in 5:59:53.

Aside from Miller and Gonzalez, another Cebuano in Jose Merdino Lim poured his heart out in the race to rule the 30-34 age group in 3:47:39.

The other age group winners in this Sunrise Events-organized race were Mervin Rencel Santiago (18-24/3:42:31), Brian Borling (25-29/3:32:15), Christopher Eyao (35-39/3:37:43), Noel Salvador (40-44/3:43:32), Glenn Gonzalez (45-49/3:45:28), John Sadler (50-54/4:08:31), Hugo Jones (55-59/5:20:47) in the men's class, and Angelica Yvonne Limjoco (25-29), Ylang-Ylang Jordan (30-34), Maria Margarita Hizon (35-39), and Erica Dueger (50-54) in the women's category. (FREEMAN)