Ramos, Eugenio rule ironkids

MANILA, Philippines — Euan Ramos kicked his way to the top in the bike stage and went on to claim the boys’ crown while Zabelle Eugenio took charge in the opening swim leg to complete a wire-to-wire victory in the girls’ side of the IRONKIDS Philippines at Subic Bay yesterday.

Ramos battled back from joint fifth in the swim with a big surge in the bike then stayed in control in the closing run to rule the premier 13-15 division in 24:34 with combined clockings of 04:53 (swim), 11:07 (bike) and 06:50 (run) over 250m swim, 6km bike and 2km run distance.

The Baguio-based Ramos toppled pre-race favorite Darell Bada, whose rally in the run (6:39) proved short as he finished in 24:45, including 4:50 and 11:30 in the swim and bike stages, respectively, while Jyrehn Sales placed third in 25:24 from 04:48, 11:31 and 07:02 times in swim, bike and run, respectively.

Tikhon Tsinamdzgrishvili from Taguig came out fastest in the swim (04:34) but slowed down in the next two legs (12:15 and 08:41) and ended up 10th with 27:52 clocking in the event which ushered in the third staging of the Century Tuna IRONMAN Philippines and the Subic 70.3 Triathlon firing off today.

Ramos’ victory came on the heels of his triumph in Azuela Cove in Davao last March.

Eugenio, from San Isidro, Rizal, bested Erin Burgos in 28:54, clocking 05:01 in the swim and sustaining her charge with 12:20 and 09:01 times in the bike and run legs. Burgos finished in 29:22 with times of 05:17, 12:22 and 09:00 while last year’s Vermosa winner Celinda Raagas settled for third in 30:04 (05:32-13:15-08:40).

Johan Marcelo and Fritzie Surima shared the 11-12 crowns disputed over the 200m swim, 4km bike and 1.5km stretch.