GenSan tankers rule Sarangani swim marathon

MANILA, Philippines - The Dadiangas Torpedoes of General Santos ruled the 15-kilometer Swim Across The Bay marathon, part of the sixth Sarangani Bay Festival, for the fifth straight year.

The General Santos tankers clocked 2 hours, 57 minutes, 40 seconds in beating nine others, but fell seven minutes short of their own 2007 record (2:50:15.23).

Dubbed “Sarangani Bay Invasion 2012”, the extreme race run from Maasim town to Gumasa Beach in Glan, is regarded as the country’s longest ocean swimming competition and probably in Asia.

At second were the Sea Lions of Koronadal City at 3:02:52, edging GenSan View Resort of Davao City (3:03:12).

Sarangani Gov. Migs Dominguez said the swim challenge is one way of developing local swimmers’ competitiveness not only in swimming pools but also in international offshore races.

He added that the sporting event is part of the province’s advocacy of preserving Sarangani Bay, known for the world’s best-tasting tuna.