CLARK GLOBAL CITY, Pampanga, Philippines — Philippine duathlon’s young guns raced head-to-head from start to finish of the Bike King Duathlon, participated in by some 850 athletes on Sunday.
Male 18-24 age groupers Xy James Dacayanan (Team Podium BF Baguio) and Reymart Songco (Fit.ph) staged an exciting race as the two kept the pace in the first leg, a 6-km run through Clark Global City.
Songco slid into the chute after the 60-km bike along SCTex. He was faster than Dacayanan but his extra seconds in transition and on the 4-km run leg gave his rival a full minute advantage.
Dacayanan topped his age group, and took the top honor as the fastest overall male in 2 hours, 16 minutes, 46 seconds. Songco clocked a full minute after to settle for second in his age group and as overall male finisher.
Rounding the podium for third fastest male was 35-39 age group champion Ronald Molit.
On the ladies’ side, Jayline Balatibat (Herbalife) blitzed in at 2:37:30 to claim overall fastest female honors and first place in the female 30-34 category.
Second fastest overall female was Jennifer Soto (Tri Delta) who cruised to the finish two minutes after and took first place in her 40-44 age group. Fellow age grouper and national triathlon team coach Ani de Leon Brown, fresh from the Asian Games and preparing for her third Ironman World Championship bid in Hawaii, was hot on Soto’s heels to claim third (female).
Other winners in the 6K run-60K bike-4K run presented by Clark Global City and NLEX-SCTEx and supported by FamilyMart, Timex, Standard Insurance, Gardenia, Clark Water, Nescafe’ Dolce Gusto, Vittoria, The Villages at Global Clark and Royce Hotel were Aira Lourdes (female 18-24), Oscar Miguel Mapalo (male 25-29), Maria Tiffany Batilo (female 35-39), Edison Morales (male 40-44), Leilani Marie Tan and Jojo Macalintal (45-49), Lara Parpan (female 50-above), Bernardo Mateo (male 50-54), Doddie Dino Jr. (male 55-59) and Daniel Yamio (male 60-above).
The awarding ceremony was graced by Clark Global City GM Glenson Lim and Metro Pacific Tollways Corp.’s assistant vice president Rizza La Torre.
For the complete race results and winners listing of the Bike King Duathlon, visit http://www.bikekingphilippines.com