Benedicto rules Clark duathlon

MANILA, Philippines - After trailing for a good portion of the race, August Benedicto of Unilab strongly came from behind to emerge as the champion in yesterday’s Active Health Duathlon held at the SCTEX in Clark, Pampanga.

 Robeno Javier of the Philippine team led in the first run leg and the first lap of the bike leg before being overtaken by Benedicto who finished the 6km run-40 km bike-4 km run event with a time of 1 hour, 36 minutes, 29 seconds. Javier settled for second place with 1:38:25 closely followed by Carlo Pedregoza at third with 1:38:50.

On the distaff side, national duathlon champion and World Games duathlon finisher Mirasol Abad proved once again her might winning her division in 1:52:49. Next to her was Kim Mangrobang who managed second place with 1:55:54 while the bronze went to London-bound Sandra Araullo-Gonzalez with 1:56:49.

The event was sponsored by Unilab Active Health, Enervon Activ, Enervon HP, I-ON Energy Drink, Hydrite, Aboitiz Power, third District of Bohol, POCARI Sweat, TIMEX, Crystal Clear Purified Water, Saucony, Orbea, Corima, Clarkisit.com, Global Gateway Logistics City, SCTEX, BCDA and Holiday Inn Clark.

For the Philippine duathlon team, the event serves as the final tune-up  for next month’s Malakoff Powerman Asian Championships in Malaysia. Also participating in the  event are Monica Torres and August Benedicto.

 Other winners who claimed the titles in their respective age-groups and genders were Clire Adorna and Jaime Navarro (female and male 18-24), Chloe Ong and Chris Iblan (F-M 25-29), Mercy Go and Angelo Gonzalo (F-M 30-34), Camilla Brooks and Abe Tayag (F-M 35-39), Bernadette Tan and Junroz Roque (F-M 40-44), Tina Reyes and Enrico Rosil (F-M 45-49), Thomas Kun (male 50-54) and Nol Espino (male 55-over). All top three finishers in each category were awarded medals and gift packs by Bike King’s Raul Cuevas and Unilab’s Lester Castillo.