Sublemente, Villafria rule ‘Leapfrog’ Race

Like all the other partners, the tandem of Butch Sublemente and Ronald Villafria raced for fun. The only edge they had was good preparation and strategy that paid handsomely for the dynamic duo.

Sublemente and Villafria won the Northern Mariana Islands Triathlon Federation’s “Leapfrog” Race early yesterday morning after a number of the club’s regulars showed up late for the competition, reducing them to mere spectators.

Villafria and Sublemente covered the 8.5-mile stretch from Paupau Beach via Kalabera Rd-Pale Arnold Rd. junction and Banzai Cliff and back in only 47.23 and 47.56, respectively. Villafria came in first with the bike before Sublemente arrived for the first runner to complete the race.

This was about seven minutes faster than the projected average time of one hour and five minutes earlier given by the NMITF, which promised to conduct another race due because of its success.

Sublemente, who was reunited with his four-year-old daughter Aliana and wife Ritchel at the finish line, said he and Villafria started with a slow pace and waited for the right moment to make their move en route to winning the first-of-a-kind race.

“But this was really just for fun. We kind of warmed up first then went all the way after the turn,” he said.

Sublemente and Villafria are members of the Saipan Cyclers, a few members of whom failed to join the race after coming a few minutes before the start.

Sublemente and Villafria called their team Coco-Thai since the latter works at Thai Massage while the former is a staff at Coco Restaurant. For their effort, they won free dental check-up and treatment.

“Your performance here depends on who is your partner. Both of us are prepared for this,” said Sublemente.

The event was called Leapfrog because it was a two-person team using one bicycle, each alternating the bike and run leg portion of the race. Everyone starts the race at the same time.

From the starting point, one teammate rides ahead and leaves the bike at a designated exchange point and begins running.

One runs to the bike and then rides past or “leapfrogs” his or her partner and drops the bike at the next exchange point.

The process was repeated and the team that completed the course, in this case Sublemente and Villafria, won the race.

A total of 19 teams (38 participants) and 20 volunteers joined the race, including Maui XTERRA World Championship-bound Mieko Carey and husband Kevin Carey, who finished two minutes behind the champions with identical 49.01s to settle for second place.

Mieko said it was a good preparation for next week’s XTERRA Championship in Maui.

“It’s a different race and we had fun,” she said.

Yoshio Gabaldon and Russ Quinn came third with times of 47:45 and 49:41.

Jack Kabriel teamed-up with Fred Camacho, one of the oldest competitor at 58 and who is also NMITF board member, and they finished fourth with 50:48 and 50:24.

Camacho said there is a big possibility that another race with a different format will be held soon.

“We’re very happy because of the big turnout, which is far more than we expected. This is a good workout and it’s fun. Everybody has enjoyed it. We have good support from our sponsors,” he said.

Florence Antonio and Rene Calaje clocked in at 51:36 and 52:17 for fifth; Lewis Tenorio (50:51) and Florian Brag (53:26) sixth; Alabert Cataina (52:17) and Ceasar Fortaleza (55:11) seventh.

Tournament organizer Joshua Berger arrived in 55:56 with the last run portion of the race. His wife, Mamiko Berger, came in with the bike at 54:28 as they finished eighth.

Joshua Berger said they had a wonderful time plus the good weather and that it was the first time that they had more than 20 participants.

Heather Kennedy and Kanae Quinn were ninth with 54:16 and 56:16, while Matthew Mancao and Federico Fernandez settled for 10th place, clocking in at 54:29 and 56:33.

Rounding out the standings are the following: 11th Laura Sherry (59:11) and Eli Torgeson (59:11); 12th Steve Nutting (1:00.07) and Andy Nutting (1:00:07), the youngest who joined the race at 14; 13th Angie Mister (1:00:26) and Tyce Mister (1:00:26); 14th Ken Pierson (1:01:36) and Crystal Pierson (1:01:39); 15th Antonee Aguilar (1:04:09) and Jonar Sembrano (1:04:42); 16th Alexander Racoma (1:03:53) and Jodel Fernandez (1:04:56); 17th Tina Goodwin (1:05.33) and Melanie Daly (1:06:06); 18th Stan Good (1:09:26) and Shogo Ando (1:09:26); and 19th Monica Yamaguchi (1:07:24) and Izumi Yamaguchi (1:09:45).

Jodel Fernandez was the youngest to join the race at 14 years old, while Good was the oldest at 60.

Major sponsors include Pacific Islands Club, BankPacific, Dr. Irma Halaby, Hardt Eye Clinic, Dr. Edgar Tudor, Romy’s Bike Shop, SaipanCell Communications, Marianas Eye Institute, and the Law Offices of Eric Smith.