Borlain, Baniqued sparkle in Alaska IronKids

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines – Tara Borlain and Juan Francisco Baniqued completed a sweep of the Alaska IronKids races for the year with a dominating performance in yesterday’s record-setting Triathlon II Cebu at Mactan’s Shangri-La Resort and Spa.

Borlain, who previously topped the first swim-bike-run event in Subic and two aquathlon competitions in the 2015 series, handily posted Title No. 4 with a winning 34:24.0 in girls’ 11-12 category of the event that drew an all-time high of 189 participants.

“It’s amazing. I really felt the sweetness of the victory considering all the hard work I’ve done,” said Borlain, who beat Catherine Angeli Yu (35.54.1) and Raven Faith Alcoseba (37.07.8) for the plum.

The 12-year-old Borlain also washed away the pain of her loss to elder sister Samantha in last year’s race here. Back then, Tara was determined to score another victory in the Queen City of the South to follow up her conquest in the 9-10 division in 2012.

“I feel so happy I finally got it back,” said Tara, who received a big hug from Samantha after crossing the finish line.

Samantha placed second in the girls’ 13-14 while little sister Franchezka snared bronze in the 6-8 play. “I’m so proud of my siblings,” she said.

Like Tara, Baniqued posted an undefeated run in the 2015 IronKids in the boys’ 11-12. Baniqued reached home in 33.54.7, nearly three minutes ahead of runner-up Bernard Miguel Sy (36.31.6) and third placer Victor Andrew Boherom (36.33.2).

“I met new competition (in this race) and it was challenging. But I was confident as I prepared hard for this,” said Baniqued after lording it over in this historic resort city for the second straight year.

Not to be outdone was Cebuano Yuan Chiongbian, who romped off with the boys’ 13-14 plum just a week after snaring a gold in the Singapore Triathlon.

“It feels great winning two golds in two weeks. I wasn’t actually expecting to win considering I just raced last week in Singapore,” said Chiongbian, who submitted a fast 42:50.7 in the 400m swim, 12K bike, 3K run course to reign over of Lucian Antonio Alejo (45:51.4) and John Caleb Barlin (45:53.3).

Nicole Danielle Eijansantos repeated as champ in the distaff side with 47:02.1, holding off Samantha Borlain (49:52.6) and Sam McInnes (50.05.6).

Rounding up the honor roll in the race organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. and sponsored by Alaska Milk were Justin Christopher Yu (27:43.4) and Lorayne Lencioco (27:09.5) in the 9-10 category, and Michael Gabriel Lozada (18:03.2) and Ma. Chelsea Faith Miñoza (18:20.6) in the 6-8 division.

The podium finishers received their trophies from Sunrise president Fred Uytengsu with some of the pros.