Duenas, Villacin lead top contenders

CEBU, Philippines - Choobie Duenas of Volvo Multisport and Louie Villacin of WS Tri Team will lead close to 200 triathletes who will plunge into action in this year’s 8080 Sogod Triathlon slated on Saturday starting and ending at the Durano Port in Sogod town north of Cebu.

Duenas and Villacin, who topped last month's Tabualen 111 Tri at the Maravilla Beach Club in Tabuelan, are among the top contenders to watch out for alongside Ralph Arche of Team Parklane and Filipino elite Gerrie Calinawan among others.

The participants in the full distance (80-80) of this three-in-one event will have to deal with a 1.8-kilometer swim, 65K bike and 14K run, while entries in the half distance or 40-40 category will go through a 900-meter swim, 32.5K bike and 7K run.

A total of 61 athletes are entered in the open division. The rest of the 185 entries are spread in different age groups: 19 below, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 35-40, 40-44, 40-46, 45-49 and 50-above.

Cash prizes and gift certificates from sponsors will be handed out to the top performers, with the champion in the open class of the full distance race taking home P10,000. The second and third will receive P7,000 and P3,000, respectively. The age-group and relay winners will be given gift checks.

The event is spearheaded by the Cornerstone Group of Steve Maniquis in association with the municipality of Sogod.  (FREEMAN)