TOP Cebuano triathlete John Philip Dueñas defended his fastest run split title and placed fifth in the men’s Filipino elite yesterday in the Century Tuna 5150 Triatlon in Subic Bay.

Dueñas clocked 2 hours 23 minutes and 58 seconds in 1.5-kilometer swim, 40K bike, and 10K run and bettered his sixth place finish last year; he posted 36:39 in the run to retain the best overall runner plum.

Dueñas, a Filipino elite third placer of Ironman 70.3 last year, said that he has to improve on his swim and bike. He clocked 29:02 in the swim and 1:15:52 on the bike yesterday.

Cebuano Xterra pro Joseph Miller, who just recovered from bruised ribs injury, clocked 2:36:54 and placed third in the men’s 35-39 age group. Jose Merdino Lim crossed the finish line in 2:42:47 and also salvaged third place in the men’s 30-34 age group.