Local Triathlete Trains for Cobra Ironman

Local elite triathlete John Philip Duenas has been training for the Cobra Ironman on Aug. 2.

Included in his training was joining the St. Ignatius Run at the South Road Properties in Cebu City Sunday.

Duenas arrived at the venue early on a spin bike, making use of that extra time to get his legs ready for the grueling 1.9-kilometer swim, 90-kilometer bike and 21-kilometer run.

But he missed the call for the start of the 21-kilometer division.

It was only 30 seconds after the field has started that he noticed he was late and finally got off the bike to the starting area.

Still, the triathlete who was a former elite runner showed his specialty as he managed to win the 21K division despite the late start, finishing with a 63-second lead over the field.

It took him four kilometers to join the top four of the 21K and seven kilometers in, the 28-year-old overtook two runners and was running neck-and-neck with Kenyan Douglas Mwiti.

The Kenyan only lasted until the 10th kilometer as Duenas pushed his pace and took the lead.

“In the last six kilometers, I was leading by 50 meters and I decided to push further in the final stretch so I would have a safe lead,” Duenas said.

He finished in 1 hour, 19m inutes and 9 seconds, a good 63 seconds ahead of Michael Largo. Mwiti, who struggled in the final stretch, settled for third in 1:20:31.

The victory came unexpectedly for Duenas.

“I did not expect to win because I started the race late. I wasn’t also aiming to win the event since I joined this only as part of my training for the Ironman. Still, I am very happy with the results,” said Duenas.

In the women’s division, Ruffa Sorongon of Mindanao got back to her winning ways after dominating the field in 1:36:43, almost 10 minutes ahead of second placer Jona dela Torre, who finished the event in 1:44:39. April Fernandez got third place in 1:45:32.

Sorongon said she has learned her lesson after cramps hit her in the Run for the Rivers last June 28.

“Last month, I joined more than four races and that was over my usual mileage. Now, I will limit myself to just two to three races per month to avoid cramps,” said the 23-year-old who has made a name for herself in the Cebu running scene.

Another Mindanaoan Elmer Bartolo, who is from Davao City and Sorongon’s trainer, won the men’s 12K in 45:48, beating Azlan Pagay (47:11) and Frante Canumay (48:31).

In the women’s division, University of Cebu’s Kisha Mae Delechos ran away with the crown in 50:21 and was the only female runner to finish in under an hour. Second placer Amale Jopson, a former triathlete, finished in 1:01:50, while Irish Delechos got third place in 1:13:28.

In the 6K students division, John Veloso Romery got the title in 25:29, beating James Paolo Gica and John Michael Bacus, while tennis player Kristin Renee Salimbangon won the women’s title in 34:54, over Trishia Fortuna and Josette Nator.

Meanwhile, the organizers of the event, who are alumni of the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, were elated over the turnout.

“We had 2,400 participants and that’s 400 more than our target runners. I hope that the runners enjoyed our event and will join us again next year,” said Richard Ho, who is himself a triathlete.

Proceeds of the event will be used to construct the teachers dormitory in the school campus in Canduman.

Aside from the open division, the organizers also had a 21K, 12K and 6K alumni division.

In the 21K, running ophtalmologist Dr. Potenciano Larrazabal III, a Boston Marathon qualifier, defended his title for the third time in 1:41:01, finishing two minutes clear of Ian Gonzaga. John Paul Yap got third pace in 1:48:12.

Benedict Benedicto won the 12K in 1:05:12, while footballer Mark Veloso and Ivy Suarez won the 6K alumni crown. (PNA) CTB/EB/MP/PJN