Grabador rules Atleta Ako aquathlon with fast swim

MANILA, Philippines -  A strong performance in swimming helped Carla Beatriz Grabador not only win her age-group but also register the fastest time among over 320 women and girls in the third Atleta Ako Women’s Aquathlon held yesterday at the Philsports Complex in Pasig.

Grabador won the standard distance (500m swim-5K run) in the 25-29 age group in 33 minutes, 5 seconds, which includes a very swift 7:20 swim time.

In the process, she even bested 35-39 champion Ines Santiago of WU Crew (33:57) and second placer Kaye Lopez of Fit+Academy (34:14) in the race organized by Bike King headed by Raul Cuevas and presented by AtletaAko.com and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Other standard distance champions were Andrea Villanueva (18-24), Ian Banzon (30-34), Ani Brown (40-44), Elaine Andaya (45-49), Celma Hitalia (50-above) and the JasTri Team (relay).

Lauren Plaza won the 15-17 crown in the 400m swim-4.2K run. Winners in the Petite Distance (300m swim-3K run) were Monica Roa (18-29), Katrina Sarabia (30-39), Seevee Lastimoso (40-49) and Gloria Labao (50-above).

In the kids distance, winners were Franz Joves (13-14), Isabella Relf (11-12), Janelle Blanch (9-10) and Sophia Relf (7-8).

Now on its third year, the Atleta Ako Women’s Aquathlon has established itself as the biggest all-woman multisport event.

Since its inaugural edition in 2015, the franchise also served as a celebration of International Women’s Month and supported the PSC’s Women in Sports program pushed for by then PSC commissioner Akiko Thomson-Guevara.

Complete race results can be viewed online at www.BikeKingPhilippines.com while official race pictures will soon be posted at Bike King’s Facebook page, organizers said.

The event is supported by Smart, official timer Timex, Standard Insurance, Klean Kanteen, Urban Ashram Yoga, Ogalala, Robinsons Supermarket, Gardenia, Del Monte, Neutrogena, Gatorade, Havaianas, E-Z Laces, David’s Salon, Dolfin, Bestway, Be #kidspirations, emco, Sante Barley, Flaming Wings, Certified Calm, Ceelin Chewables, Active Setyl, Sante Impact System, Razon’s, R. Lapid’s Chicharon & BBQ, Myra, 2XU, Fujifilm, Century Tuna, media partners Endurance, SwimBikeRun.ph and Gameplan.