Thompsons take podium in Tagaman Triathlon

From left, Jinju, Jinie, and Colin Thompson pose with their medals after the awards ceremony for the Tagaman Triathlon last Saturday at Kanoa Resort. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Colin Thompson and his daughters Jinju and Jinie all made it to the podium during the awards ceremony for the relay races of last Saturday’s Tagaman Triathlon.

Jinju suited up for Team JWK and joined forces with biker Wynn Brillo and runner Kaden Church in ruling the mixed relay event. The trio combined for 2:25:40 to top their division and posted the best time in the entire relay field, which drew 14 teams.

Team JWK completed the 1.5-kilometer swim in the waters off Kanoa Resort and around the partially submerged World War II tanks, the 40K bike from Minatchom Atdao Pavilion to Banzai Cliff and back, and the 10K run from the pavilion to the Chamolinian Utt and back more than six minutes ahead of Team Worth-A-Tri. Colin was the swimmer for Team Worth-A-Tri and Jojo Valencia and Dennis Bautista were the biker and runner, respectively, and clocked in at 2:31:51 to earn the first place finish in the men’s division.

Colin’s younger daughter Jinie and her Team Anonymous, on the other hand, were the runners-up in the mixed relay after submitting 2:42:12, which was the sixth fastest in the relay division. Jinie had Ernie Henzon as swimmer and Li Zhao as runner.

Team Poolewinfry swimmer Leith Poole, biker Tina Goodwin, and runner Sarah Fryling rounded out the Top 3 after logging 3:09:42.

In the men’s division, Team Islander Car Rental came in at second with its 2:37:52, while Team Ali’i was ranked third after recording 2:39:17. Lennosuki Suzuki was the swimmer for Team Islander Car Rental and was second out of the water overall (split times were unavailable at press time), beating the rest of the pro field and placing second behind younger brother Jinnosuke. Lennosuke teamed up with biker Andrew Estepa and runner Liang Xinshi, while Team Ali’I had Ernie Moises, Aldrin Sta. Ana, and Josh Joson as swimmer, biker, and runner, respectively. Jinnosuke was with Ben Babauta and together they were ranked ninth in the men’s division.

Meanwhile, in the women’s solo race, the winners were 25 to 29’s Nicole Harkness (4:02:15); 30 to 34’s Jennifer Camacho (2:51:00), 35 to 39’s Chi Ngan Chow (2:30:21), 40 to 44’s Kristina Ingvarsson (2:38:02), 50 to 54’s Me Kyong Bae (2:50:28), and 60 to 64’s Choi Ying Fong (3:00:50).