Five Cebuanos finish Asia-Pacific Ironman

CEBU, Philippines - Five Cebuano triathletes survived the toughest triathlon race of their lives as they finished the 2014   Ironman Asia-Pacific Championships the other night in Melbourne,Australia.

These five triathletes are Meyrick Jacalan, Gianluca Guidicelli, Andrew and Jane-Jane Ong and Dr. Alberto Solis Jr.

Triathletes had to deal a total of 3.8-kilometer swim which follows a T-shaped, one-lap course at the Frankston Foreshore, before proceeding into the 180-kilometer bike course split.

Jacalan who was under the 40-44 division continued to pounce on and dealt with the 42.2-kilometer run and was the first to cross the finish line among the Cebuanos in a time of 12:50:43. Solis trailed Jacalan by a second than at 12:50:42 under the 45-50 division.

Andrew Ong and Guidicelli finished the race. Andrew reached the finish line at the time of 14:10:47 under the 35-39 class, while Guidicelli had a 14:10:48 clocking in the 50-55 division.

Jane-Jane Ong finished the race in 15 hours and 22 seconds under the 40-44 bracket, way ahead of the 17-hour cut-off time imposed to all entries.

Meanwhile, Fil-American Arland Macasieb scored the biggest victory as he placed second overall in the pro division. Macasieb who just got out of an injury, finished in 8:02:14 behind the Asia-Pacific champion Dirk Bockel with a time of 8:01:02.

Two other pros who carried the Philippine flag was Paul Matthews who finished 27th overall with 10:16:44 and Dan Brown at the 28th with 11:53:17 clocking. — (FREEMAN)