Takie, Agustin rule Bantayan triathlon

HIROSHI Takie took the men’s standard triathlon event title, while Joan Agustin ruled the women’s sprint triathlon in the ninth edition of the Island Sportscapade in Bantayan Island.

Takie finished all the triathlon disciplines in two hours, forty-four minutes and forty-two seconds.

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Takie had a slow start and was only third after the 1.5-km. swim event, which was topped by Ralph Arche.

However, Arche failed to sustain his momentum and did not finish the race.

“I was not very conditioned, laspag na kaayo ko towards the end so I didn’t finish it,” Arche said

Takie also ranked third in the 40 km bike discipline, which was topped by Salvador Pio. However, the eventual champion managed to take the lead in the 10-km. run.

Rico Valentine clocked in at 2:53:22 for second place, while Bacolod’s Franklin Echevarea took the third spot with 2:55:59. John Mark Tanamo was fourth with 3:06:11 and Pio Salvador settled for the fifth spot with 3:23: 35.

In duathlon, Rico Valentine took first with Arche and Takei at second and third.

Agustin made it two for two after winning the women’s event. She was followed by Janice Bautista and Mia Moore Lim.

In the ocean man contest, Elmo Clarabal took first ahead of Franklin Echeverea and Takei.

“Though we had fewer participants this year, it was still very successful,” said Funsports coach Benjoe Jimenez .

Jimenez said there is another triathlon event in Subic and most of the triathletes opted to join that event instead of competing in Bantayan.

One of those who skipped that Bantayan event is swimmer turned triathlete, Lohriz Echavez, who is now a member of the Philippine triathlon team.

Jimenez said that after the Bantayan event, they will be conducting several seminars and clinics to promote the sport together with Sugbu Triathlon.