Asiad-bound Huelgas, Stroh win Tri United 2 long distance titles
Asian Games bound triathlete Nikko Huelgas leaned on his explosive performance in the swim and bike even as Unilab Active Health’s Anna troh banked on her big push in the run as they retained their titles in the Tri United 2 Long Distance Triathlon held yesterday at Playa Laiya, an uan, atangas.
Philippine National Games champion ared acalalad 1 08 57 added another feather to his cap as he joined im ilgroe 1 14 53 to emerge the winner in the sprint category in this event organi ed by ikeking headed by Raul uevas and sponsored by Unilab Active Health ULAH and Landco in cooperation with an uan ayor Rodolfo analo and the Association of Laiya Resorts Owners headed by arvi Naval.
Youth Olympic Games qualifiers Vicky Deldio and ustin hiongbian also saw action in the 750m swim, 20 bike and 5 run with the Olongapo lady triathlete topping the female 16 17 and the ebuano triathlete settling for third behind acalalad 16 17 .
itness irst, meanwhile, took top honors in the Team category in the event also supported by Aboiti , Aboiti Power, Otter ox, nervon Activ, Active Health ports Gel and nervon HP. locking at 34 36 53, itness irst reigned supreme over ante arley 35 17 27 and Herbalife 35 30 56 .
Huelgas negotiated the lung busting 2 swim, 60 bike and 15 run race in 2 56 26 as he displayed his superb form in the swim and then road on his aerodynamic, time trial bike to surge ahead by more than 10 minutes over his teammate and ULAH’s ohn hicano.
The time gap gave Huelgas more than enough cushion to defend his title despite a bout with dehydration as he headed for the finish line.
I really wanted to push myself in this race because in my last local race, I was not able to make a podium finish for the first time. I’m happy with how I performed today, said Huelgas, who was immediately given medical assistance as he collapsed after crossing the finish line.
hicano, who is also set to see action in the Incheon Games, took second place 2 57 26 while another ULAH triathlete August enedicto claimed the bron e medal 2 5 20 .
Not as easy was troh’s route to victory as she struggled in the swim and suffered a flat tire halfway in the bike.
I could not see clearly in the swim because of the sun and had a flat tire in the bike that caused me to lose something like 10 minutes. That is why I needed to make one big push in the run and in the second lap of the three lap race, I managed to take the lead, said troh, who was timed at 3 22 5 .
ULAH teammate Ani arina de Leon rown, who emerged first out of the water, settled for second with 3 30 11.
Huelgas and troh took home P10,000, hicano and De Leo rown settled for P6,000 pri e and enedicto bagged P4,000 from Unilab officials Alex Panlilio, Lester astillo and ohn vangelista.
Other winners in the long distance race male and female were ervin antiago and aria Lourdes La aro 18 24 , rian orling and eshia ule 25 2 , ichael Raymond Amistoso and ayline alatibat 30 34 , ohn Abdul and Le ette Albarote 35 3 , Abe Tayag and Doray llis 40 44 , ark llis and elma Hitalia 45 4 , rank Lacson 50 54 and Thomas uhne 55 above .
oining acalalad and ilgroe as champions in the sprint distance were Patrick ohn Ramire male 18 2 , ark erome aquing and Anne atherine Hernande 30 3 , Laurent ourcier and Ha el errer isa 40 4 ,and Gary rown male 50 above .
The next two legs of the Tri United series will be on Oct. 26 Tri United 3 in ubic ay reeport and on Nov. 23 Tri United 4 in ontana, lark.
The event was also backed by Orbea, himano, rystal lear, axxis, Pocari weat, Timex, aucony, omen’s Health, en’s Health and The Philippine Star.
or more details visit www.bikekingphilippines. com andwww.unilabactivehealth.com.