TEENAGERS NAVO, ULAT REIGN SUPREME IN AQUATHLON

TEENAGERS Richard Anson Navo and Eunice Ulat reigned supreme over 400 participants in the Vermosa Sports Hub Aquathlon 1 held over the weekend at the Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite. Navo finished the standard distance 500-meter swim and 5-kilometer run event in 28 minutes and 27 seconds to top the 15-17 age group. Irienold Reig Jr. came in second with 29:03 in the same age group and Don Velasco, competing in the 30-34 category followed 52 seconds later to round out the top 3 male finishers. Ulat went head to head with Erika Nicole Burgos in the 15-17 female age group but sprinted to the finish of the standard distance in 34:10, just 16 seconds ahead of Burgos. The girls were joined by Celma Hitalia of the 50-above group with her 36:40. In the relay category, siblings Janelle and Jacob Blanch put in a fast finish time of 30:17. Younger and first-time multisport athletes took advantage of the Vermosa aquathlon’s petite distance race—300-meter swim and 3-km run—to test their mettle. Among the inspiring performances in the category came from two expectant moms, six-month pregnant Aimee Lagman and Nadine Bettina Almario, who is four months on the way. For Diana Zamudio, second place in her age group marked a sweet return to racing following a horrible freak accident nearly a year ago. The family-and-beginner-friendly format of the Vermosa Sports Hub Aquathlon 1 supported by Ayala Land Inc., Gatorade, Standard Insurance, Speedo, My Daily Collagen, and MoguMogu drew several pairs of parent-child tandems and teams of siblings competing and even winning in their respective age groups. Among the kids aged 7 to 12 who raced the shorter swim-run distances, the spirit of sportsmanship was evident with teams, such as the Elizabeth Seton Saints and Get Coach’D waiting and cheering for their teammates at the finish line on the IAAF-standard Vermosa track oval. “We are delighted with the great turnout of this event in partnership with Bike King who ensured that the contests ran smoothly. The participants had a lot of fun,” said Vermosa Sports Hub Operations Manager Andrea Intalan, who awarded the age-group winners along with Bike King official Ting Joson. The Vermosa Sports Hub Aquathlon 1 is part of the Vermosa Sports Hub series and the Sun Life Aquathlon series. By joining the series, the top 20 finishers of the individual standard distance are awarded points and could vie for the honor of being named the top athlete of 2019 in their age group.