Rolling Race challenges triathletes

MANILA, Philippines - The rolling race route at the Fontana Hot Spring Leisure Park in Clark, Pampanga provided enough challenge for the 334 triathletes who participated at Tri United 4 presented by Unilab Active Health and organized by Bike King.

National triathlon team member Kevin Eijansantos, who clinched the third place in the male elite category, was quite happy about his performance. Eijansantos, who clocked in at 1:25:19, said: “It is hard to set a ‘personal record’ (PR) on a rolling, hilly race course, but it’s good. Personally, I consider Tri United 4 as my most complete race because I really exerted my best effort in bike and run legs, which are not really my forte.”

Eijansantos’ Philippine Team members Edward Macalalad, Jimuel Patilan, Allen Gabrielle Santiago, Louie Lalanto and their coach, George Vilog, also raced at Tri United 4. The team is training to qualify for the Incheon Cup International Triathlon in South Korea in November next year.

Elite triathletes Mark Anthony Hosana and Claire Adorna prevailed over early favorites in their respective categories. Hosana admitted that the 900-meter swim, 30K bike and 5K run race was quite challenging but still he managed to emerge as the fastest among the male elites with 1:24:16 on the clock.

Hosana beat fellow Team Unilab Active Health member August Benedicto. “I miscalculated my time in the swim leg and I lagged behind in the bike leg, but it was a good race overall,” said Benedicto who finished in one hour, 24 minutes and 50 seconds.

Meanwhile multi-awarded swimmer and first-time Tri United series participant Adorna’s forte worked well in her favor. The 20-year-old member of the University of the Philippines (UP) swimming team swam her way to the top place of the female elite race with 1:33:28 time and beat Team Unilab Active Health elite members Kim Mangrobang and Ani Karina De Leon-Brown who finished second and third, respectively.  

Other top placers in their respective age groups for males are as follows Samuel Ranque (15-16), Christopher Law (17-19), Mervin Rencel Santiago (20-24), Raymund Gerard (25-29), Mark Jonas Rivera (30-34), Jernard Capati (35-39), Manuel Ong (40-44), Chad Davis (45-49), Eduardo Francisco (50-54) and, Artemio Engracia (55-above).

For the female age-groupers, the following clinched the top place: Margarita Lazo (17-18), Alisa Nicole Lim (18-24), Shermin Claire Tuazon (25-29), Junie Santos (30-34), Camilla Brooks Chua (35-39), Yvette Medalla (40-44) and, Cecille Lavarez (45-above).

UNILAB Consumer Health (ULCH) Sulong relay team composed of UNILAB top management officials: Josel Garcia, Asst. Vice President of ULCH Regional Business; Sebastian Baquiran, Senior Vice President of ULCH; and Alex Panlilio, Head of Unilab Active Health, emerged as champion clocking in with 1:53:23.

The opening salvo next year, Tri United 1, will be held on March 9, 2014 in Subic, Olongapo.

Tri United 4 is sponsored by Enervon Activ, Enervon HP, I-ON Energy Drink, Hydrite, Bikeking, AboitizPower, Pocari Sweat, Timex, Crystal Clear Purified Water, Saucony, Corima, Orbea and UST College of Rehabilitation Sciences.