Norte makes it two in a row in Asian elite division
Cebu-based triathlete Banjo Norte recorded a personal best en route to winning back-to-back titles in the Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa in Lapu-Lapu City yesterday.
Norte of Rider Omega Triathlon Team finished the half-Ironman race with a new personal best of 4 hours, 24 minutes and 34 seconds, shattering his previous best time by about two minutes.
Raymond Torio finished in second place at 4:30:42 and Leonard Rondina was in third place in 4:31:04.
“To win back-to-back titles is my dream. I’m more than happy right now,” said the Cagayan de Oro City-born Norte, who first won the Ironman 70.3 Philippines in Cebu in 2013.
The latest win was the third title for Norte in the 70.3 Philippines race in Cebu, one more win away from tying Benedicto, who ruled the Asian Elite formerly known as Filipino Elite in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Since the Ironman 70.3 Philippines was held in Cebu in 2012, there have only been two champions—Benedicto and Norte.
The 24-year-old Norte wasted no time in the 1.9-kilometer swim, 90K bike and 21K run race as he raced to a hot start in the swim portion, finishing it in 30:08, just a few seconds behind teammate Jorry Ycong and Jumamil.
It was a neck-and-neck battle then between Norte and Jumamil after the bike as the two were separated by only 20 seconds. Norte finished the three-loop bike segment in 2:50:56.
Norte broke away in the final loop of the two-loop run course and finished the run with a time of 1:31:41 to secure the title.
Norte, who did not miss a single Ironman 70.3 Philippines
race in Cebu since 2012, said that he woke up feeling confident.
“As a defending champion there was pressure, but when I woke up on race day I was confident that I can make it because of my preparation,” said Norte, who trained for two months for this race.
Norte said that the team will be discussing if they will compete in the 2019 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Nice, France.
Last year’s second placer Paul Jumamil dropped to fourth place at 4:34:36 and many-time 70.3 Philippines champion August Benedicto settled at fifth place with a time of 4:34:43.
Cebu’s bets Jorry Ycong, John Philip Duenas and Xterra pro Joseph Miller were at sixth, seventh and ninth places with times of 4:37:49, 4:51:14 and 5:16:31, respectively.
Meanwhile, in contrast to the stacked lineup in the men’s Asian Elite field, the women’s division was uncontested. Alexandra Ganzon was crowned the women’s Asian Elite winner after clocking 5:04:52.
Ganzon came out of the water in 35:43, finished the bike portion in 2:38:18 and completed the run segment in 1:45:37.
In the men’s age group division, Satar Salem won the 18-24 division and posted the overall time in 4:30:56. Sam Colvin ruled the 25-29 in 4:29:05, Vlad Ixel won the 30-34 in 4:30:14, Ryan Miller rulled the 35-39 in 4:16:50, Olivier Godart won the 40-44 in 4:39:47, and Mark Jansen topped the 45-49 in 4:49:47. The rest of the men’s age group winners are Thomas Hardcastel (50-54, 4:59:22), Koji Muroya (5559, 5:10:02), Paul Redding (6064, 5:54:49), Edward Houeix (6569, 6:19:14), Mike Ramsay (70-74, 8:25:02) and Tadashi Horiuchi (75-79, 8:27:22)
In the women’s age grouip division, Ling Er Choo won the 30 to 34 division and posted the best overall time in 4:43:42, bettering the 18-24 champion R.R. Panibon, who posted 5:38:03.
Leyann Ramo won the 25 to 29 division in 5:32:28, Laura Nadeau won the 35-39 in 4:50:20, NC Stafoord won the 40-44 in 5:11:21, Anne Lavandon won the 45-49 in 5:28:59, Petro Kuiper won the 5054 in 5:17:07 and Mika KUme won the 55-59 division in 7:09:09.