Braving the Cebu heat
Ben Allen defends Xterra Off-Road title in ‘toughest’ race; Paterson snatches title in distaff side
HEAT may be a problem to some, but not for Ben Allen. The Australian braved the heat and defended his title in the pro division of the Vaseline Men Xterra Off-Road Triathlon Series at the Seafront Resort in Liloan yesterday.
Allen finished in 2 hours, 37.40 minutes to once more win the title. Coming in second was Dan Hugo, who posted 2:38.31 and Sam Gardner, who clocked in at 2:48.19 for third.
“It was really a very tough race. I did not get a chance to rest,” said Allen who said his edge over the others was getting acclimatized to the Philippine weather.
“The heat played an important factor in this race. I consider this as one of my toughest races and to walk away with a win today is really a phenomenal,” said Allen who won.
Allen is the 2012 XTERRA Pacific Triple Crown Champion after winning the races in Guam, Philippines and Saipan. He also won the 2012 XTERRA World Tour New Zealand Champion.
In the women’s division, 2011 and 2012 Xterra World champion Leslie Paterson of Great Britain snatched the title from last year’s winner Renata Bucher of Switzerland.
Paterson checked in at 2:45.41, while Bucher clocked 3:00.03 for second place. Darrelle Daz Parker also of Great Britain came in third with a time of 3:17.03.
“The race was awesome but very hard. The heat was just brutal. I love normally the hills but this one was really hard. I am not disappointed at all that Paterson won. I know how strong she is, I enjoy racing against her,” Bucher said. She will be joining Allen next week in Saipan.
Paterson, on the other hand, said she was amazed at the terrains and considers this race as one of the more interesting and challenging Xterra races she has ever done. Aside from the technical course, she also finds the heat a challenge. “The heat was very oppressive,” Paterson said.
Meanwhile, all eyes were on Cebuano Joseph Miller, who pulled off the day’s biggest surprise.
The 33-year-old Miller completed the 1.5K swim-36K bike9.4K run in 3 hours 05.51 minutes to win the Filipino men’s elite title, defeating more seasoned triathletes.
Benjamin Rana Jr. of Camsur came in second in 3:10.13, while Jefferson Tabacon was at third in 3:11.20. (See story below)
Also pulling off a shocker was Ilo-ilo City’s Alexandra Ganzon, who won the women’s side.
Ganzon pulled off a huge upset, dislodging last year’s champion Rochelle Tan for the women’s title. Ganzon finished in 4:15.03, while Tan checked in about 10 minutes later. Joyette Jopson finished in third in 4:45.58 for third.
In the 35-39 age group, Miguel Antonio Lopez defeated Noy Jopson for the title. Lopez clocked 3:30.11, while Jopson, a World Xterra 2012 finisher, came in a minute after.
The other winners were Matteo Guidicelli (3:50.25) in 20-24 age division; Emmanuel Commendador (3:25.44) in the 25-29; Michal Bucek (3:12.38) in the 3034; Richard Santiago (3:45.20) in the 40-44; John Thomas Gonzalez (3:39.30) in the 45-49; and Sunrise events’ Fred Uytengsu (3:19.33) in the 50-54.
In the relay division, Potato Corner’s Elmer Bryan Bilangdal, RP team member moun- tainbiker Eusebio Quinones and Whreachelle Cordova ruled the relay mixed division, clocking 3:05.12. The all-men relay division was topped by Dennis Daniel Roa, Hernane Cabugwason and Julmer Noel Espina with 3:33.50 and the all women relay was won by Cez Hufana, Ma. Cheryl Felizardo and Ibet Marie Sih with 4:24.42.