Impressive performance for Cebu City Rider Omega Triathlon Team in Alveo Ironman 70.3 Davao

Cebu City Rider Omega Triathlon Team’s Cianyl Jam Gonzalez (second from left) and Vic Montebon (extreme right) with other 25-29 category podium finishers. | contributed Photo

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Seven of the 15 members of the Cebu City Rider Omega Triathlon Team managed podium finishes in the Alveo Ironman 70.3 Davao held here at the Azuela Cove on Sunday, March 24, 2019.

Leading the team was birthday boy Jorry Ycong, who placed second in the Asian Elite category with a time of four hours, 33 minutes and one second (4:33:01). 

Just a second behind him at third place was teammate Banjo Norte. 

Despite not being able to retain his title, Ycong said it was still a decent finish for the team.

“It was still a good outing because we (him and Norte) were still able to enter the top 3,” said the 29-year-old Ycong.

Read more: Cebu City Rider Omega Triathlon Team’s Ycong, Norte finish in top 3 of Asian Elite Category

Eventual champion in the Asian Elite was August Benedicto.

Ycong said when Benedicto caught up with them about 25 kilometers in the bike, he knew it was impossible for them to catch up with the champ. 

“We decided to just pace ourselves because we knew we couldn’t catch up with August anymore. And, we had to make sure to protect the second and third place because the guy behind us was also fast. We were aiming to make it to top 3,” said Ycong. 

Read more: Young Cebuanos bag four titles in Alaska Ironkids Davao

The age grouper members of the team were also successful with Cianyl Jam Gonzalez and Vic Montebon placing second and third, respectively, in the 25-29 category. 

Gonzalez clocked 5:38:44 while Montebon breasted the tape at 4:46:14.

Also making it to the top 3 in their respective categories were Maria Victoria Tan and Lorna Amor. 

Tan placed third in the female 45-49 category with her time of 5:55:00 while Amor also took the third place in the female 50-54 after clocking 6:24:49. 

Learning experience

Cebu City Rider Omega Triathlon Team coach Franz Baguio said that he is satisfied with his wards performance here. 

“Everyone is pushing, we fell short but that’s part of racing,” said Baguio.

The squad’s mixed relay team of Karen Andaya, Dongkie Sanchez and Joseph Arnel Emia finished first but got disqualified for not stopping at the penalty tent. 

Baguio said that they do not know what the penalty was because no marshal  approached any of the team members to inform them that they were slapped with a penalty. 

“Sometimes you win and sometimes you learn,” said Baguio. 

The team’s lone Alaska Ironkids entry, Marielle Estreba, also clinched the title in the girls 13-14 category. 

Up next for the team is the Sun Life 5150 Naga and Go For Gold Sunrise Sprint on April 28, 2019 at the City of Naga in Cebu and the Ironman Australia in Port Macquarie in New South Wales.

Also successful were the relay teams headed by the key persons behind the Ironman 70.3 Cebu, Cebu Provincial administrator Atty. Mark Tolentino and Lapu-Lapu City tourism head Hembler Mendoza. 

“This race is very well organized,” said Tolentino, adding that in some ways better than Cebu “which is good because it raises the bar higher.” /bmjo