MANILA, Philippines - Jonard Saim pulled the rug from under heavy favorites Nikko Huelgas and John Chicano to share podium finish with fast rising Ma. Claire Adorna in the first-ever Aboitiz TRI2014 race held Saturday at the Pico de Loro Cove at Hamilo Coast, Nasugbu, Batangas.
Stricken out of the national roster at the end of 2013, Saim showed his class as he recovered lost ground at the start of the run leg to win over Huelgas in an exciting sprint finish in the male elite class.
Aboitiz GRP president and CEO Montxu Aboitiz graced the event and fired the starting gun that kicked off action in the race which drew 350 triathletes.
Union Bank SEVP Edwin Bautista, Manny Rubio, COO Aboitiz Power Generator and Basti Lacson, COO VECO also watched the race backed by Aboitiz Equity Ventures and organized by Bike King.
“I was ahead of him (Huelgas) in the bike phase but he overtook me on the flat road but I put in some burst of speed at the end and it’s nice I still had it,†said the 25-year old, Polomonok, South Cotabato native.
Now a member of the Alaska Tri-team, Saim clocked 2 hours, 6 minutes, 4 seconds in the 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run also supported by WeatherPhilippines together with Unilab Active Health (ULAH), Hamilo Coast, Pico Sands Hotel, Orbea, Shimano, Crystal Clear, Maxxis, Pocari Sweat, TIMEX, Saucony and Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club.
Huelgas, the country’s top male triathlete fell short by eight seconds (2:06:12) while Chicano was third in 2:10:26.
On the distaff side, there were no problems for the 20-year old Adorna as she anchored her solid performance on her blazing swim under very hot and humid weather conditions. So fast was the UP tanker, she beat even Huelgas in the process.