Canadian 'lucky' triathlon winner

Canadian expatriate David Verlee was not expecting to win in yesterday’s Anvaya Cove Invitational Triathlon in Bataan. In fact he finished fourth overall but since those who came ahead of him were all guest runners, it was enough for the 39-year-old CEO to claim the overall title.

“ I just do this for fun and you can say I am very lucky, I love doing this especially when you do it with friends, this is certainly one of the best organized triathlon races that I have joined,“ said Verlee, married to a Filipina and head of his own energy savings company.

Verlee clocked 1:52.15 for the 1K swim-30K bike-6K sprint triathlon that took the over 80 male and female participants over hills backdropped against the mountains on one side and the sea on the other side and complemented by a perfect triathlon weather – overcast skies and no sun.

Ferdinand Catabian finished second overall in 1:56.45 while third was another local, Jose Antonio Narciso, who completed the highly technical course in 2:03.51.

Actually it was another Canadian , Subic ’03 race champion last August, Matt O’Hara who claimed line honors in 1:40.08, followed by national triathlete George Vilog (1:40.54), national duathlete August Benedicto (1:44.10), and another national triathlete, Peter Villocino (1:46.20).

The women’s side of the event, sponsored by Speedo , Sunkist, and Vitwater, aside from host venue Anvaya Cove, was won by Mt. Everest conqueror Carinna Dayondon who came from behind in the swim leg and caught up with the erswhile pacesetters in the bike leg en route to a solo win in 2:12.07. She was followed by former national duathlon champion Rizzo Tangan (2:21.10) and Joyette Jopson (2:24.19).

‘I just knew I will finish the race but I really did not expect to win it, I am not a good swimmer at all, I just have a higher threshhold for endurance, “ said Dayondon, who dreams of completing an Ironman Triathlon within a year’s time.

Ayala Corporation’s Fernando Zobel de Ayala competed and placed third in the 45-49 age group won by Anthony Welsh in 2:05.36.

Other male age group champions were David Charlton, (50-54, 2:49.17), Jan Harley Bangayan, 20-24 (2:20.56), Joe Carballo (25-29, 2:12.06), Roy Hervias (30-34, 2:25.32) and Martin de Castro (35-39, 2:15.11).

Canadian ‘lucky’ triathlon winner

Canadian expatriate David Verlee was not expecting to win in yesterday’s Anvaya Cove Invitational Triathlon in Bataan. In fact he finished fourth overall but since those who came ahead of him were all guest runners, it was enough for the 39-year-old CEO to claim the overall title.

“ I just do this for fun and you can say I am very lucky, I love doing this especially when you do it with friends, this is certainly one of the best organized triathlon races that I have joined,“ said Verlee, married to a Filipina and head of his own energy savings company.

Verlee clocked 1:52.15 for the 1K swim-30K bike-6K sprint triathlon that took the over 80 male and female participants over hills backdropped against the mountains on one side and the sea on the other side and complemented by a perfect triathlon weather – overcast skies and no sun.

Ferdinand Catabian finished second overall in 1:56.45 while third was another local, Jose Antonio Narciso, who completed the highly technical course in 2:03.51.

Actually it was another Canadian , Subic ’03 race champion last August, Matt O’Hara who claimed line honors in 1:40.08, followed by national triathlete George Vilog (1:40.54), national duathlete August Benedicto (1:44.10), and another national triathlete, Peter Villocino (1:46.20).

The women’s side of the event, sponsored by Speedo , Sunkist, and Vitwater, aside from host venue Anvaya Cove, was won by Mt. Everest conqueror Carinna Dayondon who came from behind in the swim leg and caught up with the erswhile pacesetters in the bike leg en route to a solo win in 2:12.07. She was followed by former national duathlon champion Rizzo Tangan (2:21.10) and Joyette Jopson (2:24.19).

‘I just knew I will finish the race but I really did not expect to win it, I am not a good swimmer at all, I just have a higher threshhold for endurance, “ said Dayondon, who dreams of completing an Ironman Triathlon within a year’s time.

Ayala Corporation’s Fernando Zobel de Ayala competed and placed third in the 45-49 age group won by Anthony Welsh in 2:05.36.

Other male age group champions were David Charlton, (50-54, 2:49.17), Jan Harley Bangayan, 20-24 (2:20.56), Joe Carballo (25-29, 2:12.06), Roy Hervias (30-34, 2:25.32) and Martin de Castro (35-39, 2:15.11).

Canadian ‘lucky’ triathlon winner

Canadian expatriate David Verlee was not expecting to win in yesterday’s Anvaya Cove Invitational Triathlon in Bataan. In fact he finished fourth overall but since those who came ahead of him were all guest runners, it was enough for the 39-year-old CEO to claim the overall title.

“ I just do this for fun and you can say I am very lucky, I love doing this especially when you do it with friends, this is certainly one of the best organized triathlon races that I have joined,“ said Verlee, married to a Filipina and head of his own energy savings company.

Verlee clocked 1:52.15 for the 1K swim-30K bike-6K sprint triathlon that took the over 80 male and female participants over hills backdropped against the mountains on one side and the sea on the other side and complemented by a perfect triathlon weather – overcast skies and no sun.

Ferdinand Catabian finished second overall in 1:56.45 while third was another local, Jose Antonio Narciso, who completed the highly technical course in 2:03.51.

Actually it was another Canadian , Subic ’03 race champion last August, Matt O’Hara who claimed line honors in 1:40.08, followed by national triathlete George Vilog (1:40.54), national duathlete August Benedicto (1:44.10), and another national triathlete, Peter Villocino (1:46.20).

The women’s side of the event, sponsored by Speedo , Sunkist, and Vitwater, aside from host venue Anvaya Cove, was won by Mt. Everest conqueror Carinna Dayondon who came from behind in the swim leg and caught up with the erswhile pacesetters in the bike leg en route to a solo win in 2:12.07. She was followed by former national duathlon champion Rizzo Tangan (2:21.10) and Joyette Jopson (2:24.19).

‘I just knew I will finish the race but I really did not expect to win it, I am not a good swimmer at all, I just have a higher threshhold for endurance, “ said Dayondon, who dreams of completing an Ironman Triathlon within a year’s time.

Ayala Corporation’s Fernando Zobel de Ayala competed and placed third in the 45-49 age group won by Anthony Welsh in 2:05.36.

Other male age group champions were David Charlton, (50-54, 2:49.17), Jan Harley Bangayan, 20-24 (2:20.56), Joe Carballo (25-29, 2:12.06), Roy Hervias (30-34, 2:25.32) and Martin de Castro (35-39, 2:15.11).