Record-breaking turnout for Tri United Series 1
The first edition of the Tri United Series of Bike King Philippines and ActiveHealth this year, Tri United 1 2016, took off with some recordbreaking feats. With 940 participants, it is the biggest turnout so far for the series, and the biggest ever among the triathlon races organized by Bike King Philippines. Moreover, it is the second biggest in the Philippines.
“Nineteen years ago, there were only 50 participants in the first longdistance race I organized. This year’s Tri United 1 is record-breaking for me. It has the most number of participants in the races I have organized so far. And since Tri United started in 2011, this is the biggest turnout so far,” said Raul Cuevas, CEO of Bike King Philippines.
Mitchell Robins outraced all participants, with a total time of two hours and 15 seconds (2:00:15), in the standard distance, which was comprised of a 1.5km swim, 40km bike, and 10km run leg. It was a back-to-back win for the Australian, who also topped the 2015 Tri United 1. It was not an easy win, according to Robins: “The course is much harder this year as the hills are steeper. And the local guys are also becoming faster, congratulations to them.” Robins is fresh from his second-place finish at 2016 Thailand Tri-League held the week before.
Placing second to Robins was fellow Australian Lachlan “Lachie” Kerin. Tri United 1 was his first-ever triathlon race in the Philippines and he could not be happier about the outcome. “The triathlon scene here is one of the best in the world,” said the 21-year-old, who has raced in various triathlons all over the world, from Hawaii to Indonesia.
Taiwanese Chang Chia-Hao, who came in third, rounded off the top male participants in the standard distance category.
Meanwhile, it was also a back-to-back win at Tri United 1 for Team ActiveHealth’s Claire Adorna, 22. She also placed first among female triathletes in the standard distance category last year. Adorna finished the swim-bike-run course with a time of 2:37:51, a bit slower than her time last year of 2:15:55.
Adorna will compete next in the 2016 Olympics qualifier race in Japan in April. She says there is no pressure to qualify since she and her coach Ani De Leon-Brown’s long-term plans are for the 2020 Olympics.
De Leon-Brown, who clocked in 3:09:08, came in second. The triathletecoach placed third at last year’s Tri United 1 with a time of 2:33:05. Like Adorna, Brown has just recently started racing again, barely four months after giving birth to her second child with Dan Brown, who topped his age category in the same race.
The 16-member Cebu-based triathlon team Rider Omega Pro won the the Team Challenge title. Team Herbalife came in second. Defending champions Sante Barley Tri Team placed third.
Triathletes are encouraged to register early to avail of slots in the upcoming races: Tri United 2 on July 3, Tri United 3 on Oct. 23 in Subic, and Tri United 4 on Nov. 27 in Fontana Clark, Pampanga. Online registration can be done on www.bikekingphilippines.com and www.activehealth.ph.