Mataragnon upsets Villaba in San Remigio kiddie tri

CEBU, Philippines - Aaliyah Ricci Mataragnon pulled off a huge upset over national youth training pool member Nina Francesca Villaba in the kiddie tri event of the Cebu Loves Tri Team Championship Series that kicked off yesterday in the northern Cebu town of San Remigio.

Mataragnon bagged the girls 11-12 crown with a convincing time of 36.01 minutes, way ahead of Villaba who clocked in 43:25. Nyza Archival wound up third in 51 minutes and 56 seconds.

Archival's sister Nyka Jenin, however, dominated the girls 9-10 class in 29 minutes and 24 seconds. Cassandra Saravanan finished second in 33:29, while Tammyra Giza Salimbangon placed third in 35:51.

Haydenn Angela Laus and Mikele Jopson grabbed part of the limelight by topping their respective classes. Laus ruled the girls 7-8 division in 23:09 followed by Eim Espina in 23:44. Jopson won the girls 6-under in 14:07 followed by Dhexia Myle Bersabal (15:08) and Zurielle Kenzie Galo (17:16).

Diane Kaye Sy timed one hour, one minute and 40 seconds, but was unopposed in the girls 13-15.

On the other hand, Eduard Russell So lorded it over in the boys 7-8 with the time of 16:08 followed by Xeemon Sage Cuyos (17:19) and Laszlo Dorr (17:32), while Aldrich Etienne Alvez dominated the boys 9-10 with a 26:52 clocking followed by Bernard Miguel Sy (27:20) and Jarond Mesina (28:29).

Ralph Eduard So won the boys 11-12 category in 39:01, while Dante Dorr and Hanz Reuter were unopposed in the boys 6-under and 13-15 categories. (FREEMAN)