BETTEN, DUKE SPEARHEAD AUSSIES’ TRIATHLON ROMP
SUBIC— Sam Betten completed a three while Dimity Lee Duke posted a breakthrough win as the Aussies flaunted their might in the Regent 5150 Triathlon Sunday.
Benefiting from cooler environs brought on by heavy morning showers, Betten stormed ahead in the swim event and never relinquished control en route to a milestone treble in the annual Olympicdistance race produced and organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. and sponsored by Regent Foods.
Betten negotiated the course in 1:55:58 to beat compatriot Mitch Robins by nearly five minutes. Robins (2:00:27) wound up runner-up for the second straight year even as American Iain Alexandrinis (2:01:46) took the bronze in the 1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run race that lured nearly 1,000 participants from 27 countries.
“It was really tough. The rains made things really hard, especially in the bike. But the organizers made a good decision changing the course to make it safer. It was a good race, and to win this race three years in a row, it’s such an amazing feeling,” said Betten.
The 6-foot-4 Betten emerged out of the waters of Acea Beach after 19 minutes and 57 seconds, gaining distance on Robins (21:30) and Alexandrinis (21:34). He added two minutes to his lead in the ride on the wet roads and kept it running home to Remy Field’s track oval.
“I felt really good out there. The heat wasn’t too bad so I didn’t have to push quite hard (than usual), which was really advantageous to me,” Betten said.
After podium finishes in the last two editions, Duke finally ascended to the throne with her 2:13:32 effort.
Duke worked her way up from fourth in the swim, catch- ing up with early pacesetter Laura Wood at the latter part of bike then putting the hammer down in the 10K footrace to seal the deal. Wood clocked 2:15:11 for silver while Anna Eberhardt (2:15:48) landed third.
“I didn’t know what to expect today. I actually was a bit sick for this week. I just went in with an open mind, stay up in swim and use my strength in bike and hope to hold them off in the run,” said Duke, silver medalist in the inaugural Regent 5150 in 2015 and third placer last year.
“Getting a win this weekend is really a big confidence boost leading to Ironman 70.3 Queensland next weekend,” said Duke.
National team mainstay John Leerams Chicano dominated the Asian Men’s Elite category. Chicano clocked 2:03:06 to beat 2015 SEAG gold medalist Nikko Huelgas (2:06:19) and Paul Jumamil (2:10:19) for the plum.