UPSETS rocked Tri United 4 as Mark Anthony Hosana and Claire Adorna pulled the rug from under heavy favorites last Sunday at the luxurious Fontana Hot Spring Leisure Park in Clark, Pampanga.
Racing under the banner of Unilab Active Health, 21-year old Camarines Sur triathlete Hosana pushed himself hard enough in the bike and run legs to win over teammate and former No. 1 duathlete August Benedicto and national triathlon team mainstay Kevin Eijansantos in the male elite.
“Ang gusto ko lang talaga ay tumapos dahil alam kong malakas ang field. Pero hindi naman nawala ang pagnanais ko ring manalo,” said the Camarines Sur native who negotiated the 900-m swim, 30-k bike and 5-k run rolling race course in one hour 24 minutes and 16 seconds.
He was in ninth place after the swim dominated by Eijansantos but worked his way to second after the bike. Hosana put more pressure on Eijansantos and took the lead after the first of two loops in the run. The decision to go hard on the swim took its toll on the 21-year old Eijansantos as he ended up very tired in the final kilometer that Benedicto managed to outsprint him for second spot.
“When I saw the course, my plan was to establish a good lead and try to maintain it. But as you can see, it didn’t work. Still, I’m happy with my overall performance because this is my first podium finish since i competed in the elite last year,” said Eijansantos who clocked 1:25:19 and was 29 seconds behind Benedicto (1:2450).
Adorna, a multi-gold medal winner in the UAAP swimming meet for UP, banked on her strength in the pool to build a big enough gap between her and Kim Mangrobang and Ani Karina De Leon-Brown for the female elite title with a 1:33:28 time.
“Pinaghandaan ko po ito lalo na sa bike kasi dito mahina. Pangarap ko rin na masama sa national team at kinukuha na ako pero tatapusin ko muna ang pag-aaral ko,” said the 20-year old Adorna, a graduating student of UP taking up school sports.
Mangrobang, the country’s top female triathlete and winner of the Tri United I and 2, settled for second with 1:37:08 while Tri-United 3 champion De Leon-Brown took third with 1:41.01.
BIKEKING headed by Raul Cuevas, organized the race supported by Unilab Active Health, Enervon Active, Enervon HP, I-ON Energy Drink, Hydrite, BIKEKING, AboitizPower, Pocari Sweat, TIMEX, Crystal Clear Purified Water, Saucony, Corima, Orbea and UST College of Rehabilitation Sciences.
“We had a successful year and we are very, very happy with the support from the triathlon community. We have lined up four races for 2014 and we hope to make it bigger and better,”said Al Panlilio of UAH.
Other champions in the age groups for males are Samuel Ranque (15-16), Christopher Law (17-19), Mervin Rencel Santiago (20-24),Raymund Gerard (25-29), Mark Jonas Rivera (30-34), Jernard Capati (35-39), Manuel Ong (40-44), Chad Davis (45-49), Eduardo Francisco (50-54), Artemio Engracia (55-above).
Margarita Lazo (17-18), Alisa Nicole Lim (18-24), Shermin Claire Tuazon (25-29), Junie Santos (30-34), Camklla Brooks Chua (35-39), Yvette Medalla (40-44), Cecille Lavarez (45-above) are the female age group champions.
For complete results, interest parties are encouraged to visit www.unilabactivehealth.com and www.bikekingphilippines.com
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