Benedicto, Torres still RP's best

SWIMMING isn't their strongest suit, but August Benedicto and Monica Torres made up for lost time with a strong performance in the bike and run events to retain their titles as the country's best triathletes.

"They were ahead going out of the water. I caught up with them in the bike," said Benedicto in Tagalog. "I told myself to just keep my pace. I have a lot of experience . The longer the race went, the faster I was and as soon as I saw them slowing down in the run because of cramps, that's when I told myself that this was it."

Benedicto finished with a time of 4:26:46. Cebu-based Paul Jumamil and John Leerams Chicano, who had a huge lead over Benedicto in the swim part of the race, finished in second and third place, respectively, with 4:27:49 and 4:28:04.

Chicano and Jonard Saim were the first to get out of the water with identical 28:13 splits, followed by Jorry Ycong and Jumamil. Benedicto was trailing at sixth place going into the bike transition.

"I had a hard time in the swim because the current was strong. It isn't also our strength," Torres said, referring to herself and Benedicto. "I was with Maria Hodges in the bike and overtook her in the run."

Torres finished with a 4:45:54 time, while Hodges ended up at second place with 5:07:02.

Torres was trailing behind Hodges by almost three minutes after the swim event. She, however, overtook her for a lopsided finish.

Benedicto won his third straight Filipino Elite title, and his fourth all in all. Torres, on the other, hand won back-toback titles.

Meanwhile, Rdak-Bloq Residences bagged the Relay title with a time of 4:05:55.

Mervin Santiago took home the 18-24 Male category medal with a 4:39:26 time, while Jenefer Paloma won the 18-24 Female division.

Brian Borling clocked in at 4:46:47 to claim the 25-29 category, while Singaporean Ling Er Choo grabbed the Female crown in the same age group with a time of 4:49:29.

Nikolai Jenkins won the 30-34 Male category with a time of 4:37:53, while Singaporean Baoying Lim bagged the 30-34 Female title with a 5:52:03 time.

Italian Timothy Cosulich won the 35-39 age group with a time of 4:25:22, while Hong Kong's Suet Fan Wong claimed the 35-39 Female division with a time of 5:36:24.

Christopher Eyao won the 40-44 Male age group with a 5:02:49 time, while Australian Janine Willis clocked in at 5:06:40 for the 40-44 Female diadem.

Hong Kong's Anne Lavadon won the 4549 Female category with a 5:13:52 time.

Singapore's Sin Guan Tan grabbed the 50-54 Male age group with a 5:13:17 finish, while American Celma Hitalia finished with a time of 5:59:44 for the Female category of the same age group.

Aussie Graham Crocker won the 65-69 Male age group with a time of 6:04:09.