D’STRIKERS, Kicks & Cleats, and Bottoms Up finished first in their respective 6th Saipan Duathlon team relay divisions Saturday at Banzai Cliff.
D’Strikers, the top men’s team, consisted of 19-year-old runner Sildrey Veloria and 22-year-old biker Renren Gaviola. They blew through the 27.5-kilometer race with finesse as they displayed their speed on foot and on two wheels.
Veloria started the race on foot and covered a 5km distance. As soon as he was tagged by Veloria, Gaviola went off to clear the 20km distance from Banzai Cliff to Seafix and back. Veloria then got back on foot and quickly finished the remaining 2.5km run to cross the finish line way ahead of the competition at 01:04:31.
In an interview, Veloria said, “It was easy at first and then when I looked back, I thought people were right behind me, but I realized I was ahead of the other runners and was halfway done. All that training with Edward Dela Cruz Jr. and all that hard work paid off.”
Gaviola, for his part, said “the wind was strong coming back…so I just maintained my speed. I trusted my partner to stay in the lead.”
In second place was Team Hail Mary which consisted of Jason Cao and Cesar Fortaleza. The two clocked 01:07:48 and were followed by Just4Fun’s Jalen Lucido and Jomer Enriquez whose finish time was 01:09:30.
Women’s division
Kicks & Cleats claimed first place in the women’s division by clocking 01:21:08.
Evelyn Pangelinan, 31, covered the course on foot while Vernice Ronda, 41, rode the bike.
“It was fun,” Pangelinan said. “But the 5km was kind of tiring. The 2.5km was OK — it was nice because [Ronda] was riding beside me for the last leg.”
Ronda said “the bike ride was OK but it was windy coming back.”
In second place was Team Bingo’s Jessica Ortizo and Marjorie Ganacias who clocked 01:24:24 while Houk Bang’s Ann Bang and Rowena Houk settled for third place with a time of 01:27:42.
Mixed relay
In the mixed relay event, Bottoms Up’s Rosemarie Chisato and Noel Altamirano finished first with a time 01:13:21.
“We met by drinking, bottoms up!” said 56-year-old Altamirano who works at Marianas Trekking, referring to 45-year-old Chisato, an employee of Paris Croissant Bakery.
The two said they trained about five days a week prior to the duathlon.
A very active member of Run Saipan, Chisato said she has participated in nearly every local race except for the Turkey Trot Run.
The top three teams in the 6th Saipan Duathlon men’s relay pose with officials of the Triathlon Association of the CNMI during the awards ceremony, Saturday, at Banzai Cliff.
The top three teams in the 6th Saipan Duathlon women’s relay pose with officials of the Triathlon Association of the CNMI during the awards ceremony, Saturday, at Banzai Cliff.
