Tabacon, Pe Benito share honors in Speedo-NAGT

MANILA, Philippines - Tagum City entry Jefferson Tabacon and Johannah Pe Benito from Parañaque posted contrasting victories in yesterday morning’s initial leg of the Speedo-National Age Group Triathlon (NAGT) series held in Davao City as part of the city’s 72nd Araw ng Dabaw celebration.

Tabacon, 17, moved up to first place after the top two finishers, Paul Villocino and Bryant Borling, were disqualified for not completing the bike leg of the 1K swim-30K bike-8K run which attracted 65 entries from Davao City, Davao Oriental, Cagayan de Oro , Bukidnon, Mati, Toril, Tagum, Tacloban and Metro Manila.

Pe Benito led from start to finish in the distaff side.

With his top finish, Tabacon, who clocked 1:53.55, ruled the 15-19 male age group. Pe Benito, 17, won the same age category in her division in 2:18.09 and received prizes from Speedo and David’s Salon

The other age group winners in the race, the fifth year in a row that the Speedo NAGT series was launched in Davao City, were Marjun Balaite (2:06.54, 20-24), Jemarin Cabilla (1:57.56, 25-29), Christopher Eyao (2:05.01, 30-34), Ronal Parantar (2:09.08, 35-39), veteran Arthur Compra (2:10.39, 40-44), Danny Dumlao (2:36.43, 45-49), Edmund Aying (2:30.53, 50-54) and Edgardo Villar (2:21.28, 55-59).

The female side of the race, organized by the Triathlon Association of Davao (TRIAD ) headed by Oscar Escudero with Alex Sam as race director, saw Cheryl Araneta finishing first in the 20-29 age group in 2:53.25. Felina Tadianan, who finished second to Pe Benito, was first in the 30-39 in 2:33.33, followed by Cossette Plaza in 2:36.45. Plaza was third overall.

Present at the awarding ceremonies were Escudero, past TRIAD chairman Angel Brillantes and Speedo regional coordinator Imelda Caguioa.

The race was also supported by the Davao City Traffic Management, Barangay Matina rescue team, Davao Sunday Runners Club, Davao Volunteer Fire Brigade and Lipovitan.