Lanao del Norte bet rules Zambo triathlon

ZAMBOANGA CITY — A young triathlete from Lanao del Norte captured the overall title in Sunday’s inaugural Compressport Hermosa Triathlon here.

Satar Salem, 23, bested two teammates as the powerhouse SND Barracuda team dominated the competition organized by Fuerza Multisport for the city government of Zamboanga in connection with the city’s annual Hermosa Festival.

Salem was more than seven minutes ahead of his closest rival, Paul Jumamil, as he crossed the finish line in two hours, 18 minutes and five seconds. Jumamil was a distant second with 2:25:47 while John Alcala was third in 2:27:13.

Herbalife’s Ronald Molit, coach of Fit PH and race ambassador, finished fourth overall and was runaway winner in his age group (35-44 years), beating Herbalife teammate Elmer Santiago and Trinics’ Gerald Asiado.

The women’s field was dominated by one of the country’s top age groupers, Compressport race ambassador Ines Santiago of Herbalife, who took the women’s overall title in 2:47:34. She was almost 20 minutes clear of the second placer, Barracuda’s Angelica Jasmin Rejas. Rena Marte of Trimac was third overall.

Mayor Beng Climaco sent the triathletes off with a gong as more than 200 participants plunged into the vinta-lined swim course off the city’s Paseo del Mar to start the swim-bikerun distances of 1.6k, 43k and 12k. The event was part of city’ month-long celebration of the annual Hermosa Festival, the oldest and one of the most colorful festivals in the country.

The event was organized by Fuerza Multisport, led by triathlon coach and race director Jojo Macalintal, in coordination with the city’s special events head, Christian Olasiman.

Salem is one of the country’s most promising young talents in the swimbike-run multisport.