Jarwyn Banatao of Baguio city stunned early favorite Emmanuel Comendador of Bohol with a superb bike performance to rule the National Duathlon Championship yesterday in Iloilo City.
Banatao left his pursuers going into Transition 2 with a 4-minute gap and cleared the finish line solo.
Earlier in the race Banatao was in a tight spot with Comendador and Requi Trupa in the first 8.5 km run leg but managed to break away from everyone in the 40 km bike segment and finished the final 6.5 km run, strongly timing 2 hours and 17 seconds.
On the distaff side of the event sponsored by the City Government of Iloilo, Green Triathlon, Gatorade, Standard Insurance, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Global Power, Sarabia Manor Hotel, GEA Marketing Bike Shop, Planet Cycle, ABS-CBN Iloilo, Petron and Globe Telecom, Mirasol Abad survived a serious challenge from Miscelle Gilbuena to retain her crown with a winning time of 2:22:47. Gilbuena won the silver in 2:23:36 while Iloilo’s Alexandra Dumaran finished in 2:30:13 for the bronze.