PH Team member dominates in Camotes, tops National Age Group Duathlon

Sports

PHILIPPINE Team member Eric Hechanova stamped his class on Camotes Island after he topped the National Age Group Duathlon on Saturday, Oct. 24.

Hechanova, a native of Pangasinan, ruled the standard elite male category after finishing the 10-kilometer run, 40-kilometer bike, 5-kilometer run competition in one hour, 55 minutes, and 15 seconds.

It was actually a one-two finish for national team members as John Patrick Ciron wound up second with a time of one hour, 55 minutes, and 57 seconds.

Hechanova and Ciron said the competition served as a good preparation for their upcoming event in Taiwan.

"Para sa amin yung isang pinakamagandang preparation namin before sa race sa Taiwan. Napakagandang tuneup race para sa aming dalawa ito. The best talaga itong race sa Camotes," Ciron said.

The two good friends figured in a tight race before Hachenova managed to build a crucial lead in the homestretch.

The two admitted having what they called a friendly rivalry.

"Yung sa first run namin tinatantsa namin, magtutulungan talaga kami sa bike, yun naman yung nasunod naming dalawa. Pero sa last part sa race, competition na kami sa last part sa race," Ciron said.

For Hechanova, the rivalry boils down to who’s in a better shape.

"Sa race naming dalawa, halos palitan lang kami eh, kung sino lang talaga yung nasa condition sa pagitan naming dalawa," Hechanova said.

Finishing third was Justhene Navaluna, who timed 2:01:47.

The standard elite female category title went to lone entry Aira Danara Gregorio, who finished the race in 2:25:55.

Meanwhile, Cebuano para triathlete Alex Nino Silverio ruled the male para division, winning another title after recently pocketing a bronze medal at the Asian Triathlon Para Championships.

Silverio was trailed by Cedei Abellana and Leonardo Acosta.

In the junior elite male category, Hermogenes Branzuela of Bogo City reached the finish line first followed by Anxander Gomez and Patrick Saladaga.

Kent Liam Nocete, Franz Miguel Villegas, and Uno Aguipo were top three finishers in the male 16-19 category.

In the male 20-29 division, Fritz Kurven Gerodias won the title over Abraham Sachs and Michael Dolge Ryle Jayme.

Samuel Bada dominated the 30-39 category, followed by John Alexon Loon and Paul Mikki Tangian. John Nino Brigoli ruled the male 40-49 division followed by Daryl Ivan Cubar and Crisanto Pena.

Lone entry Arthur Arcuino bagged the 50-59 category title.

The event in Tudela was one of two preliminary races organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP). The main event, the National Age Group Triathlon (NAGT), is set on Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Santiago Bay in San Francisco.(CCM)