Competitors in the male 6k competitive category take to the water in yesterday’s 8th Olango Challenge. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
Loren Dale Echavez reaffirmed her status as Cebu’s queen of open-water swimming after the multi-titled tanker retained her women’s 6-kilometer competitive category title yesterday in the 8th Olango Challenge at the Pacific Cebu Resort in Mactan.
Echavez clocked one hour, 36 minutes and 16 seconds to rule the fund-raising event’s 8th edition which took on a gloomy turn yesterday after one of the competing swimmers died.
Pia Cardinal (1:38.39) and Karen Mae Indaya (1:46.43) finished second and third, respectively.
The 21-year-old Echavez said she was very relaxed throughout the race and did not feel threatened by any particular competitor. “Wala raman. Pag last year nga race kay pareha raman, walay difference,” said the BS Biology graduate who will represent the country in the World University Games in Korea this July.
The top three finishers in the women’s 6k: Karen Mae Indaya – 3rd place; Loren Dale Echavez – 1st place and Pia Ordinal – 2nd place with their awards. (CDN PHOTO/ Christian Maningo)
Meanwhile, Michael Ichiro Kong successfully exorcised the ghost of last year’s disqualification by bagging the premier men’s 6k competitive crown in 1:36.40.
Defending champion Keith Ocampo came in second in 1:37.10 while Edgar Allan Jarina (1:46.06) finished third.
Michael Ichiro Kong (top) the 6k male competitive champion. (CDN PHOTO/ CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
“I feel happy and proud. Win or lose, I just need to enjoy and finish the race,” said Kong who will be joining an Aquathlon race and an Invitational Swimming Competition on May 30-31 in Bacolod City.
Over 100 swimmers were released to the sea at 11 a.m. in the event which hopes to raise funds to build disaster-resilient classrooms on Olango Island.
The top 3 winners in other categories:
2k Fun-Mixed Category: 1st) Jey Pe Campania (35 min., 44.88), 2nd) Hannah Galo (36:45.85), 3rd) Gerard Rushana (38:0.742).
2K Competitive Male: 3rd) Alfred Valentin Rojo (35:14.88), 2nd) Miles Chi (39:29.16), 1st) Andrew Kim Remolino (31:12.60).
2K Female Competitive: 3rd) Justine Reign Garrido (36:00:29), 2nd) Airra Facto (35:21.38), 1st) Romylin Nina Ignacio (35:19.57).
6K Fun-Mixed Category: 3rd) Rey Suerte (1:45:07), 2nd) Marlon Galo (1:42.02), 1st) Michael Flores (1:36.35).