Senior triathlete rules anew in Ironman

SIXTY-SEVEN year old Brigilio Balaba continues to weave wonders as he recorded the fastest time in the 65-69 age group in the fourth Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines in Cebu City.

The former Regional Internal Affairs Officer of the Cordillera police timed a total of 7”17:43 to top his age group where he timed 49:59 in the 1.9 kilometer swim event, 3”30:33 in the 90 kilometer bike and finished the 21 kilometer run with a time of 2”50:02.

“The race was one of the toughest because of the heat, although the terrain was good for triathletes. Sa bike lang ako nahirapan dahil mahangin kasi malapit sa shoreline,” quipped Balabal.

It will be the fourth Ironman triathlon for Balabal who had his best time in the 2011 Taiwan race where he clocked six hours and 54 minutes.

Balaba recently topped the 65-69 age group race in Century Tuna 5i50 Triathlon Series Philippines at the scenic Subic Bay held June 24 joined by some of the world’s leading triathletes with a total time of three hours and 38 minutes of the race sanctioned by the World Triathlon Corp.

Balaba has been a regular fixture in triathlon, not only here in the Philippines but also from abroad who just finished his fourth long d distance race this year, including a two Olympic distance competition.

Although he has been running since the 80s, it was only when he retired in 2001 that he started seriously joined running competitions and has since become the oldest traithlete in the Summer Capital.

Balaba, meanwhile, will also set his sight in the 2013 Ironman Challenge in Singapore.

Another Baguio triathlete Stephen Felices finished the race with an overall time of 6"22:27 who competed in the 25-29 age group.

Felices had a time of 35:01 in the 1.9km swim, finished the 90km bikathon with a time of 3"28:36 then clocked a time of 2"10:01 in the 21 kilometer run.

The race saw some 1,340 athletes who competed in the individual category, while more than 200 joined in the relay coming from 31 countries all around the world.

Australia's Pete Jacobs topped the individual race for the fourth consecutive year clocking 4"07:38 while Caroline Steffen of Switzerland dominated the race to top the women's division.