Hugo, Bucher rule off-road triathlon

LILOAN, CEBU, Philippines – South Africa’s Daniel Hugo pounced on defending champion Ben Allen’s misfortunes to capture the men’s pro crown while Retana Bucher reclaimed the women’s plum in the Vaseline Men Xterra Philippines off-road triathlon here yesterday.

Hugo and fellow South African Bradley Weiss trailed the fast-starting Allen after the 1.5km open water swim leg but the Australian took a spill in the early going of the 36-km bike stage and suffered a flat tire, enabling Hugo to seize control.

Hugo then bucked the heat in the 10-km run en route to copping the crown in two hours, 48 minutes, 48 seconds with Weiss completing a 1-2 finish for South Africa with a 2:56:39 clocking.

Allen never recovered from the bad breaks and struggled to finish in 3:21:52.

Filipino elite back-to-back winner Cebu-based Joseph Miller finished third overall in 3:11:58.

“It would have been more challenging if Ben (Allen) and I raced head-to-head. I saw him crash and I got worried on him. I hope he’s okay, but I also have to keep on going and win this race,” said Hugo, who crossed the finish line unopposed to the wild cheers of the big crowd.

Bucher, on the other hand, churned out a 3:24:59 clocking and nipped Carina Wasle, who clocked 3:25:18, to re-claim the women’s pro crown she won in 2012 but lost to Lesley Paterson in last year’s staging of the event organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. and sponsored by The Philippine STAR.

Mieko Carey wound up third with 3:27:34.

“I thought Jacqui (Slack) was the one to beat. She was so fast in the swim, but I just tried to do my best. This race is very hard than I thought and I’m happy I won,” said Bucher of her second Xterra Philippine title.

Meanwhile, Miller came back strong after the swim leg with an impressive performance in the bike event and went to finish third overall for a successful defense of the Filipino elite crown.

“I was really a bit disappointed with my swim, but thank God I was able to catch up with those ahead of me. I take my victory as a signal that it’s really about time to go pro,” said Miller.

Franklin Peñalosa finished second in the Filipino elite with 3:30:37 while Jefferson Tabacon ended up third in 3:39:45.

Joyette Jopson topped the Filipina elite category in five hours, 25 minutes, edging Noemi Andrea Galeos, whoe had 5:26:06, while Cebuana Cianyl Jamae Gonzalez wound up third in 5:59:53.

Aside from Miller and Gonzalez, another Cebuano Jose Merdino Lim dominated the 30-34 class in 3:47:39.

The other age-group winners were Mervin Rencel Santiago (18-24/3:42:31), Brian Borling (25-29/3:32:15), Christopher Eyao (35-39/3:37:43), Noel Salvador (40-44/3:43:32), Glenn Gonzalez (45-49/3:45:28), John Sadler (50-54/4:08:31), Hugo Jones (55-59/5:20:47) while the distaff side had Angelica Yvonne Limjoco (25-29), Ylang-Ylang Jordan (30-34), Maria Margarita Hizon (35-39), Erica Dueger (50-54). – Caecent No-ot Magsumbol/The Freeman Newspaper