HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE. Paul Jumamil from Bohol pumps his fist triumphantly into the air as he finishes first in the Filipino Elite Division of the Safeguard For Men 5150 Triathlon in Panglao, Bohol. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
Boholano Jumamil tops Filipino Elite Division
Panglao, Bohol—Boholano Paul Jumamil impressed his hometown folk by dominating the stacked-up Filipino elite division of the Safeguard For Men 5150 Triathlon here at the Bellevue Resort and Hotel.
The 23-year-old triathlete from the municipality of Cortes in Bohol finished with a total time of two hours, seven minutes and 26 seconds to emerge on top.
Jumamil said racing in familiar territory really helped.
“It’s a nice feeling that people know me and cheer for me here,” Jumamil said. “For me, it’s really an advantage if you’re familiar with the route. You have homecourt advantage.”
Junard Saim took second place with a time of 2:12.08 while Cebuano Kristiane Lim rounded off the top three with a time of 2:17.54.
Jorry Ycong was initially the third-placer before he was disqualified. According to the officials of the race, Ycong was penalized for drafting during the bike leg.
Things got worse for Ycong as he failed to serve the required penalty time of five minutes. He stayed for a shorter time because he thought he was penalized for littering.
In the female category, Jenny Rose Guerrero joined her teammate Jumamil of Alaska TriAspire at the top of the podium as she finished with a time of 2:42.01.
Cebuana Elona Louise Villacin placed second with a time of 2:54.34.
AUSSIES RULE
Meanwhile, Australia’s Sam Betten and Dimity Lee Duke lorded over the pro division.
The 27-year-old Betten topped the men’s title of the Olympic-distance triathlon event while the 32-year-old former basketball player and off-road motorcycle rider Duke out raced veteran Belinda Granger en route to the women’s pro crown.
Betten said the race wasn’t as easy as he expected.
“The weather was very hot contrary to what the weather reports showed,” he said. “It was a very tough race because the weather was getting hotter while you’re trying to push yourself further and the other guys really made me work hard.”
Betten, who also topped the Regent 5150 triathlon in Subic, Zambales earlier this year, added that the race became a test of one’s character at the latter stages.
“It was a mental game in the last three kilometers of the run because you’re starting to get exhausted because of the heat of the sun,” he said.
Betten crossed the finish line with a time of 2:01.03 while Duke finished in 2:13.30.
Granger, meanwhile, capped off her 24-year professional career in triathlon with a second-place finish with time of 2:19.47.