Prestley stands out in Tagaman

Saipan’s Peter Prestley emerged as the top non-pro finisher in the Half Ironman event of last Sunday’s 2015 Tagaman Triathlon.

Prestley broke the six-hour barrier in the 1.9-kilometer, 90K bike, and 21K run race and was the lone non-pro triathlete to do so after timing in at 5:32:18.

The 40-year-old Prestley went on to top the 40 to 44 age group, besting four other entries. He defeated fellow Saipan bet Ken Pierson (6:02:48), Korea’s Sang Yoon (6:09:11), and two more Saipan residents Goshi Sato (6:22:52) and Ernie Moises (6:40:18).

Saipan’s Peter Prestley negotiates the uphill road in front of the old Nikko Hotel during the 90K bike race of last Sunday’s 2015 Tagaman Triathlon. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Prestley, who came from back-to-back races in the Philippines to prepare for Tagaman and XTERRA Saipan, posted the 13th best time in the swim race held in the waters off Pacific Islands Club after clocking in at 33:45. Thirty-three took part in the two-lap swim race.

In the bike race, which started at PIC, brought riders to the Airport Road and the “four corners” in Marpi (Suicide Cliff, Banzai, Bird Island Lookout, and Grotto) and back to PIC (via Beach Road) before going to the American Memorial Park for the transition, Prestley submitted 2:52:40. He was the only non-pro triathlete to barge into the Top 10 in the bike leg, which Russia’s Aleksandr Doroskikh won (2:19:50).

In the bike run, which had participants running from AMP to PIC and back, Prestley registered 2:05:53, which was also good for 13th place overall.

Meanwhile, 12 others survived the Half Ironman event of the road race.

Saipan’s Erico Castro was the youngest finisher at 16 and won the U19 division with his 6:35:34 and split times of 42:04, 2:59:01, and 2:54:29.

In the 30 to 34 age group Japan’s Kazuya Yamaguchi was the lone entry and timed in at 6:24:30 (41:40, 3:39:27, and 2:03:23).

In the 35 to 39 division Guam’s Jesse Mendoza tallied 6:50:02 (44:11, 3:08:47, and 2:57:04) and prevailed against Japan’s Takefumi Yamashita, who recorded 7:36:13 (41:07, 3:49:23, 3:05:43).

There was also a two-person battle in the 45 to 49 age group with Japan’s Hitoshi Maeyama posting 6:28:31 (40:45, 3:26:44, and 2:21:02) to down compatriot Satoru Matsuda, who submitted 8:26:22 (40:53, 3:49:59, and 3:55:30).

In the 50 to 54 and 55 to 59 divisions, the winners were Hiroaki Kuwahara (7:04:12) and Alex Oviedo (6:05:47), respectively, while another Japanese bet, Yoshiji Tanaka, took the top honors in the 60 to 64 age group. Tanaka timed in at 7:19:16 to beat fellow Japanese Toru Terauchi (8:27:22) and Yasuomi Kondo (8:37:05).

In the women’s division, Reiko Okamoto was the only non-pro entry and completed the longer race of the day in 7:29:55 after earning split times of 44:45, 3:51:46, and 2:53:24.