Borlain wins Alaska IronKids at expense of sister

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu, Philippines – Sisters Samantha and Tara Borlain had mixed feelings when they reached the finish line of the Alaska IronKids Philippines at the posh Shangri-La Mactan Beach Resorts and Spa here yesterday.

Hugging each other at the end of the race, Samantha, the elder one at 12 years old, was happy she won her first race and at the same time sad it was against her younger sibling. Tara, 11, was crying, being unfamiliar with losing and happy at the same time it was a Borlain ending up the winner.

“Part of me was trying to celebrate, another part was worrying about my sister and where she was at that time,” Samantha told The STAR after topping the 11-12 category in 35.01, securing her first victory in this annual race sponsored by Alaska Milk.

“So when I saw her (Tara) finally making it to the finish line, I saw her crying so I hugged her and tried to comfort her,” she added.

Tara, who came in a minute and 41 seconds off the pace, just cried, hugged her sister and went under the shade where no one would see her shed tears. She was then joined by Samantha and her dad, Ringgo, for a family hug.

She was still crying when she agreed to an interview.

“It’s part of life.  In a race, you win some and you lose some. I’m comforted and proud that she (Samantha) won,” said Tara, who won the first three stagings of the race, beating Samantha in all of it before last year’s postponement due to inclemenet weather.

While the Borlains dominated their section, Fil-German Arno Baetz reigned supreme in the 13-14 category for boys for the third straight year after he clocked 31.32.

Yuan Chiongbian and Brent Valelo wound up second and third in 32.13 and 32.42.

“I’m just happy to win in my last year at Alaska IronKids,” said the 14-year-old Baetz, whose father is a German and mother a native of Bulacan but lives in Hong Kong.

Finishing third in their division was Everly Janarie Macalalad in 37.54.

Juan Francisco Baniqued topped the boys’ side in 35.46 ahead of Joe Bernard Sarmiento (36.33) and Juris Aaron Earl Tan (36.43).

Other category winners were Nicole Eijansantos (13-14 girls), Juan Miguel Tayag (6-8 years boys), Justicia Marierl Tan (6-8 girls), Hyonde Keum (9-10 boys), Syrah Ruth Uy (9-10 girls), Noah Vernon (short distance boys), Celine Maniquis (short distance girls), Jose Atienza (long distance boys) and Andrea Faith Santos (long distance girls).