Dizon noses out youth bikers in 50K race

Nap Dizon leads Erico Castro as they negotiate the uphill road in front of the former Nikko Hotel during last Saturday’s PIC Bike For Life. (Contributed Photo)

Dizon completed the 50K race that started and ended at the southern parking lot of Pacific Islands Club and brought riders to the northern side of the island in 1:29:44.94 to edge Erico Castro and Jerome Diyco. Castro reached the finish line just about a second behind Dizon after posting 1:29:45.44, while Diyco was also not far behind with a third-best time of 1:29:46.46.

Dizon and Castro kept each other’s company in the majority of the race before the former outsprinted the latter in the last few meters of the road bike category to prevail in the close race and earn his second straight win in the annual race. Last year. Dizon joined the MTB category in 2013 and also won a tight race after submitting 1:55:01.37 against the 1:55:01.68 and 1:59:24 of Dencio Bautista and Ricky Suba, respectively. Castro participated in last year’s race, too and ruled the road bike category after recording 1:54:59 and beating Diyco (1:55:01.06) and Butch Sublemente (1:55:01.37).

In this year’s MTB, there was also a tough battle for first place with George De Guzman winning after registering 1:37:21. He edged Edwin Morales, who clocked in at 1:38:02 and Noel Altamirano, who posted 1:39:51.

In the women’s MTB, Jacklyn Van Natta was the runaway winner after completing the course in 1:48:06. Lynn Tenorio was the other female entry in the division and reached the finish line at the 2:13:07 mark. There was also a two-rider race in the women’s road bike category with Susan Marchitti downing Beth Kohnon as the former timed in at 2:03:30 against the latter’s 2:19:12.

The Top 2 finishers in the women’s road and MTB races received medals and gift certificates during the award ceremony, while the Top 3 placers in the men’s division took home medals and in-kind prizes, too.

Twenty-five bikers registered for the men’s road bike division and 20 showed up for the early morning race and braved the wet and slippery course. Other finishers were Tyce Mister (1:32.11), Willy Barbo (1:33:04), Rene Calage (1:33:06), Wynn Brillo (1:33:10), Fred Remilloza (1:33:11), Cesar Fortaleza (1:33:13), Russ Quinn (1:39:04), Allen Perez (1:40:32), Manny Sitchon (1:47:44), Diony Peralta (1:54:56.28), Ric Antonio (1:54:56.59), Gerald Rangamar (1:59:22), June Pineda (2:03:17), Mike Catacutan (2:07:15), Derek Chambers (2:09:22), Ruben Leynes (2:11:53), and John Dax Moreno (2:13:00).

The men’s MTB division drew the most participants with 42, but only 36 showed up on race day. Making it to the finishers list were Samson Tan (1:40:33), Gary Bandoja (1:40:38), Pax Guevarra (1:40:51), Gerry Esquivel (1:43:43), Joiner Enriquez (1:43:49), Richard Asuncion (1:44:15), Ponce Corotan (1:47:48), Jay Diyco (1:47:48), Vince Seman (1:47:49), Jay Santos (1:47:49), Romy Ampit (1:47:49), Nomer Mangalinao (1:47:50), Tim Goodwin (1:47:51), Floro Derexes (1:47:53), Ray Tenta (1:47:54, Ernie Moises (1:48:21);

Jojo Valencia (1:58:03), Mario Jacob (2:01:49), Rugino Panelo (2:03:05), Ranie Palad (2:07:05), Florence Antonio (2:07:15), James Hofschneider (2:11:50), June Evangelista (2:12:14), Robert Torres (2:12:46), Windle Ciano (2:15:18), Edgardo Deang (2:20:35), Aloysius Romolor (2:25:28), Ricky Castro (2:25:53), Matt Buenabajo (2:26:43), Ambet Omampo (2:26:44), Bhoie Hernandez (2:30:45), and Nelson Cancaida (3:06:12).

Meanwhile, organizers would like to thank IP&E and Pacific Islands Club Saipan for supporting the weekend race.