Celebrity Paul Jake Castillo at the transition area. The Cebuano won the title in the CEO category.
CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON
Three Cebuanos entered the top 10 in the Asian Elite of the Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championships which was dominated by Cagayan de Oro’s Banjo Norte yesterday at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa.
Cebu-based Jory Ycong is the highest Cebuano finisher at 6th place after clocking four hours, 37 minutes and 49 seconds.
John Philip Dueñas trailed at 7th place with a time of 4:51.14 while Joseph Miller was at 9th place with his time of 5:16.31.
Six other Cebuanos also excelled in other categories.
Spearheading the age-groupers was Rider Omega Tri Team’s Paul Jake Castillo who won the top spot in the CEO category with a time of 5:37.58.
“The overall experience went great and I really enjoyed today’s race especially with the new route,” Castillo said. “I had a little difficulty with the bike ride because it was windy when you pass through the bridge but it was fun.”
Members of the Organique Triathlon Team also scored podium finishes courtesy of Rue Reinhardt Pañibon (5:38.3), who placed second in the 18-24, and Kristiane Glendale Lim (4:35.14), who landed at third place in the 30-34.
Lim agreed with Castillo in saying that the new route gave them a new experience, a new field and an element of surprise.
“The bike course, however, was a little bit congested especially on the second loop. I had a hard time overlapping the others,” Lim said.
This was echoed by Pañibon, who said that she also had a hard time on her last loop of the bike course.
Despite having a bit of a problem in the bike, Pañibon was still able to improve her personal time.
“I am very happy today because I got my new personal record which is five hours and 38 minutes,” Pañibon said. ”
Another Cebuano podium finisher was Giorgia Guidicielli, who placed third in the the 25-29 female, clocking 6:07:58.
“The bike, I really didn’t know what to expect. We thought it would be slower, but it was really fast,” she said of the new bike course.
Meanwhile, Cebu’s Team Spectrum clocked 6:51:42 to rule the Mixed Relay. The team is comprised of swimmer Karen Mae Indaya, a multi-titled tanker from the University of Cebu, biker Marvin Tapic and runner Agustin Ychon.