Alaska Ironkids Mixed feelings for triumphant Borlain sisters

CEBU, Philippines - Sisters Samantha and Tara Borlain had mixed feelings when they reached the finish line of the Alaska IronKids Philippines at the posh Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.

Hugging each other at the end of the race, Samantha, the elder one at 12 years old, was happy she won her first race and at the same time sad it was against her younger sibling, while Tara, 11, was crying being unfamiliar with losing and happy at the same time it was a Borlain ending up the winner.

"Part of me was trying to celebrate, another part was worrying about my sister and where she was at that time," Samantha, who clocked 35.01 minutes in securing her first victory in the annual race sponsored by Alaska Milk.

"So when I saw her (Tara) finally making it to the finish line, I saw her crying so I hugged her and tried to comfort her," she added.

Tara, who came in a minute and 41 seconds off the pace in the 11-12 years old, just cried, hugged her sister and went in the tree-filled area where no one will see her shed tears. She was then joined by Samantha and her dad, Ringgo, for a family hug.

She was still crying when she agrees for an interview but a little bit composed.

"It's part of life.  In a race, you win some and you lose some. I'm comforted and proud that she (Samantha) won," said Tara, who won the first three stagings of the race and beating Samantha in all of it before last year's postponement due to inclement weather.

While the Borlains dominated their section, Fil-German Arno Baetz reigned supreme in the 13-14 category for boys for the third straight year with the time of 31.32.

Yuan Chiongbian and Brent Valelo wound up second and third in 32.13 and 32.42, respectively.

"I'm just happy to win in my last year at Alaska IronKids," said the 14-year-old Baetz, whose father is a German and mother a native of Bulacan but lives in Hong Kong.

Finishing third in their division was Everly Janarie Macalalad in 37.54.

Juan Francisco Baniqued topped the boys side in 35.46 ahead of Joe Bernard Sarmiento and Juris Aaron Earl Tan, who checked in second and third in 36.33 and 36.43, respectively,

The other category winners were Nicole Eijansantos (13-14 girls), Juan Miguel Tayag (6-8 years boys), Justicia Marierl Tan (6-8 girls), Hyonde Keum (9-10 boys), Syrah Ruth Uy (9-10 girls), Noah Vernon (short distance boys), Celine Maniquis (short distance girls), Jose Atienza (long distance boys) and Andrea Faith Santos (long distance girls).  

On the other hand, Cebu’s bets in the girls 13-14 age group also had mixed feelings with Aaliyah Mataragnon grabbing bronze and Shaia Ruth Uy failing to defend her title.

Mataragnon finished behind Nicole Danielle Eijansantos (34:47) and Loren Justine Plaza (35:54), but she felt like a champion in her last Alaska IronKids campaign. She only placed fifth in her first try two years ago.

“I’m so happy to win a medal at last. This is the best finish for me in the IronKids and finally, I was able to beat some other girls I haven’t beaten before," said Mataragnon, a student of Sacred Heart School-Hijas de Jesus.

Mataragnon’s training buddy Ralph Eduard “Raffy” So settled for fourth, but saw his younger brother Eduard Russell So winning a silver in the boys 9-10 class. So crossed the finish line in 17:38, just eight seconds behind gold-medal winner Hyonde Keum.

Two other Cebuanos in Justin Christopher Yu and Dhexia Myle Bersabal, both from Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, also took home silver medals.

Yu, a newcomer in the sport, exceeded expectations as the football player-turned  triathlete finished a close second to Juan Miguel Tayag in the 6-8 class.  Yu posted 19:58, just six seconds behind Tayag. Bersabal, for her part, landed at second place in the girls 6-8 with the time of 22:51. — Philippine STAR News Service with Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (FREEMAN)