LAPU LAPU CITY – Local bet Moira Erediano capped her Alaska IronKids Philippines stint a champion three times over, ruling the girls’ premier division but Matthew Hermosa foiled fancied Earol Belonguil in the boys’ side of the Regent Aguila IRONMAN 70.3 appetizer at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa here yesterday.
Erediano, from Talisay, ruled the 13-14 division covering 400m swim, 12km bike and 4km run in 39:22.01 to claim her third straight title and fifth overall in the event which featured the future of Philippine triathlon.
Jeanna Mariel Canete placed second in 40:38.71 while Kelly Yw Long came in third in 43:24.46.
“I will now focus on sprint distances,” said Erediano, who started out as a mere spectator six years ago and became one of the country’s brightest prospects in the sport.
But Hermosa, cousin of national team mainstay Andrew Kim Remolino, pulled the rug from under pre-race favorite Earol Belonguil to grab the 13-14 trophy in their side of the duel in 35:08.33.
Belonguil, who beat Hermosa in the swim-run event in Davao last March, settled for second in 35:43.04 while Eryk John Omandam wound up third in 36:02.78.
Sharing the spotlight was Van Wincy Pagnanawon, another Talisay entry who relied on his biking skills to top the boys’ 9-10 category (200m swim, 6-km bike, 1.5km run) in 25 minutes. Peter del Rosario and Al Dustin Bersabal took the next two spots in 26:18.20 and 27:52.74, respectively.
“I also want to be a champion someday like my grandfather,” said Pagnanawon, whose grandfather Rolando was a champion of the fabled Marlboro tour in 1986 and father Jaybop is a Ronda Pilipinas campaigner.
“He (Wincy) likes to play a lot of sports and we will support him whatever he chooses,” said the 60-year-old Rolando of the young Pagnanawon, who is also a champion swimmer in the Milo Little Olympics.
Other winners were Kira Ellis (girls 11-12), Michael Gabriel Lozada (boys 11-12), Eleora Caelle Avanzado (girls 9-10), Lauren Lee Tan (girls’ 6-8) and Diego Jose Dimayuga, (boys 6-8).
