Former national athlete rules Animo triathlon

MANILA, Philippines - Former national athlete Noel Salvador and Belle Grandinetti topped the overall division while La Salle took the championship in the first collegiate Animo Sprint Triathlon at the Narra Park inside Ayala Alabang Village Association (AAVA) in Muntinlupa yesterday.

Salvador, who competed in the 2005 SEA Games and is a member of Clear Sabak, banked on his strong showing in the swim and run leg en route to a 1:41:18 clocking. He registered splits of 15:09 in the 950m swim, 56:36 in the 27K bike and 29:33 in the 6.9K run.

Grandinetti, who owns a chain of restaurants and represent Team South Tri, ruled the distaff side with 2:08:17 as she turned the heat in the bike and run phases where she submitted the best clocking of 1:07:01 and 34:18.

Abe Tayag and brother Jumbo also of Tri-Clark took second and third place in the men’s with 1:45:05 and 1:46:27 while former national athlete Lakambini Laroque of Polo Tri and Hazel Benipayo of Fitness First checked in second and third in the women’s with respective times of 2:10:23 and 2:12:00.

Efforts by the Tayag brothers boosted La Salle over archrival Ateneo, UP and international group in the two-day event co-organized by De La Salle Zobel, Triathlon Association of the Philippines, AAVA, Chili Grass and Sunkist Tri-Hard to raise funds to send less privileged kids to school at St. Jaime Hilario-La Salle School in Bataan.

The time of 10 triathletes made up the team’s total time. The Green Archers topped it in 19:08:37. The Eagles behind Levy Ang’s 1:53:35 effort, settled for second in 20:10:15 while University of the Philippines with Ivan Fojas’ 1:54:54 took third in 21:47:25.

The race was presented by Sunkist and David’s Salon and supported by Vitwater, Alo Green Tea, Swift, Selecta, Belo Essentials, Havaianas, One Sport, The Bull Runner, Aim, Rollapaluza roller-racing and Rudy Project.

Philippine Star-A made up of Lucien Dy Tioco, Kevin Timoteo and Danila Antonio beat Philippine Star B (Jevis Aguila, Jeff Reyes and Lloyd Galicia) and U92.3 for top honors in the media category of the event backed by Jam 88.3, Wave 89.1, Magic 89.9, 99.5 RT, 103.5 Max FM, U02.3, Philippine Star, Solar Sports and Studio 23 as media partners.