TALISAY City’s Matthew Justine Hermosa and Moira Frances Erediano were unfazed by their opponents as they walked away with the gold medal in the duathlon event of the 2019 Batang Pinoy National Championships in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
Hermosa flashed his brilliance anew and ruled the boys’ 13 to 15 duathlon event on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, to bag his second gold medal in the Under-15 multi-sporting conclave organized and conducted by the Philippine Sports Commission for grassroots athletes.
The 13-year-old Hermosa of the Talisay Luigi Triathlon Group (TLTG-Go For Gold) crossed the finish line in 33 minutes and 22 seconds to secure the top spot following his triumph in the aquathlon event the other day.
Eryk John Omandam of Davao del Norte and Earol Belonguil of Talisay City were the runners-up with identical times of 34:14.
Hermosa gained control in the first run after clocking in 8:46, but Omandam and Belonguil were able to inch closer in the bike segment. It was in the second run course when Hermosa broke away with an impressive time of 6:46.
Erediano, on the other hand, clocked in 36:32 to rule the girls’ side. It was a clean sweep for Talisay City as Jeanna Cañeta and Marielle Estreba followed Erediano with times of 38:28 and 38:35, respectively.
The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu student Erediano improved her bronze medal finish in the aquathlon event.
Meanwhile, Talisay City’s James Carlos Flores topped the boys’ 11 to 12 division with a time of 24:37, outlasting Heureux Cedric Almero of General Santos City, who clocked 24:59, and Carron Paulter Cañas of Cebu City, who timed in 29:33. RSC