By Mary May A. Abellon
DIPOLOG CITY – The city government here hosted last May 10-11 the national triathlon competition, which was participated in by swimmers, runners and cyclists from the different parts of the country, as part of the P’gsalubuk Festival celebration.
Spectators flocked to the city boulevard where all triathletes converged for the competition.
The winners for the TriKids category were Juan Alessandro Suarez for the male 8 years old and under.
Nicholai Xenos Ravago and Syrah Ruth Uy for male and female 9-10 years old category; Jose Manuel Arao and Pia Francesca Suarez for male and female 11-12 years old category. While Ralph Eduard So and Shaia Ruth Uy won the super sprint male and female category.
The winners of the standard distance open category were Mark Anthony Hosana and Ani Karina De Leon-Brown (over-all category male and female); Sebastian Teves for male 18-19 years old; Brian Borling and Olive Salve for male and female 20-29 years old; James Rey Dimco and Jamillah Watamama for male and female 30-39 years old; Leonardo Angeles Jr. and Senator Pilar Cayetano for male and female 40-49 years old category.
In open relay, Team Roro with Keith Ashley Ocamo, Roberto T. Uy Jr. and Mary Joy Tabal emerged as champion.
Winners for sprint distance category were Louie Lalanto and Aya Shlachter (over-all male and female); and Team BADI with Ricky Enoy, Clees Paul Tabiliran and Hannah Meziel Kainak for local relay.
This was the second time the city had hosted such a competition.
The presence of Senator Pilar Juliana “Pia” Cayetano as one of the triathletes added color to event. This was the second she was in the city for the same competition.
Triathlon is a multiple-stage competition, which involves the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance disciplines of swimming, running and cycling.
The activity was held in partnership with the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) and the Sugbu Triathlon.