Quezon City triathlete keeps title in Batang Pinoy

DANAO CITY, Philippines—Triathlete Nicole Eijansantos imposed her will for the third straight year while Brent Valelo dethroned Yuan Chiongbian yesterday in the 2015 POC-PSC Batang Pinoy National Finals.  

Eijansantos, 14, clocked 45 minutes, 19 seconds to defeat Muntinlupa City’s Everly Macalalad (46:23) and Una Janus Sibayan (46:34) in the 400-meter swim, 12-kilometer bike and 3km run.

“It was challenging in the water because of the rough waves,” said Eijansantos, a developmental national pool member from the School of the Holy Spirit in Quezon City.

There was no trace, however, of the struggle she encountered after emerging out of the water first among 22 participants in the multi-sport meet designed to discover talents below 15 years old for the national team.

Eijansantos, who won every local race in the under-15 category, slowly pulled away in the bike sequence and sealed the victory for good halfway through the run part.

Valelo, on the other hand, took a different route in unseating Chiongbian, the defending back-to-back champion from Cebu City.

Climbing out of the water at fifth, the 15-year-old from Caloocan National Science and Technology High School chased down the leaders in the bike leg before surging in front on foot to prevail in 38 minutes, 45 seconds.

John Caleb Barlin of Iloilo timed 38:58 for silver and Chiongbian, who claimed that he was nearly hit by an ambulance in the bike phase, finished third (39:25).