Topping the A-type course in the men’s division was Yumoto Yu, who finished 24:06 in the swim leg, 1:04:25 in the bike leg, and 40:23 in the final run. At a time of two hours, eight minutes, and 54 seconds, he dropped Shirato Taro at second place by nearly two minutes. Completing the top three was 35-year-old Teramoto Yasunori, who finished at 2:18:58.
Ohara Rie took the crown in the women’s division with 2 hours, 59 minutes, and 46 seconds. Nakada Mioko and Suzuki Atsuko followed her in the rankings, timing in at 3:01:59 and 3:04:22, respectively.
Individuals in the A-type course started with a 1.5-kilometer swim from Rota’s East Harbor before moving to the 40-km bike leg and 10-km trail. The B-type triathlon was a more rigorous course involving a 2-km swim, 90-km bike course, and 21-km run.
Beating her male competitors in the B-type course was Japan’s 23-year-old Miyazawa Eri, who won first overall and in the women’s division. Her 5:17:43 record left second place winner Miyauchi Masako behind by more than an hour.
Trailing Eri by one minute was Miyazawa Takahiro, who ruled the men’s division. Sato Masaaki won second place while Saipan’s Rennan Butch Sublemente took third at five hours, 31 minutes, and 33 seconds.
Sublemente wasn’t the only athlete who made the trip from Saipan. Joining him was Michael Towle, who made it to the top five of the men’s division with 6:05:14. Competing in the A-type triathlon were Joshua Berger, Manny Stichon, and Daniel Calvo.
The Rota Blue Triathlon is a signature event of the MVA, assisted this year by the Rota Resort and Country Club, Bay Breeze Restaurant and Bar, JSBM, Aqua Gift-Shop, SIRENA, RUBIN, and Mark Michael.
