Butch leads SCA bike race winners

 Butch Sublemente ruled the MTB long course division of the SCA MTB & Road Race 3 held last Sunday in the northern portion of the island.

Sublemente completed the course that brought bikers to Marianas Country Club (Binadu Drive), FEBC, Banzai trail, Santa Claus lane (Grotto trail), Autobahn trail, Kalabera Road, one million gallon tank, and back to MCC en route to the finish line at Mariana Resort in 1:02:36, less than a minute ahead of runner-up Charlie Sendin (1:03:23). It was Sublemente’s second win in the same race, as he defeated Lewie Tenorio and Anthony Aguilar in SCA Race 2 in August last year.

Tenorio also joined this year’s race, but settled for third place in the Saipan Cyclers Association-organized event after clocking in at 1:05:20.

Ten others joined the MTB long course, including lone female rider Robyn Wondrasek, who timed in at 1:29:51, beating two male riders. Other finishers were Ken Pierson (1:07:50), Mark Isip (1:08:12), Noel Altamirano (1:09:00), John Arceo (1:09:20), Kaisei Toda (1:12:08), Mario Galang (1:12:08), John Parungao (1:31:41), and Alex Sablan (1:41:35).

In the short course, youth biker Erico Castro bested 27 other riders after submitting 45:42. Castro finished the race just 22 seconds ahead of runner-up Rolando Canipas, who logged 46:04. Harold Balana completed the Top 3 with his time of 48:98.

In the women’s division, Joan Salazar was ahead of Lauretta Allen as the former timed in at 1:09:24 against the latter’s 1:36:44.

The MTB short course had bikers going up to MCC from Mariana Resort and then to Kimikaze, Kalabera, one million gallon tank, and back to MCC.

In the beginners’ course, Nestor Corotan clocked in at 28:28 to lead 13 others. Corotan and company biked from Mariana Resort up to the paved road heading to Suicide Cliff and then turned left on the road at the back of the golf course.

Joining Corotan in the Top 3 were Rustico Valino (28:36) and Jerome Diyco (28:51).

For the road race, Nap Dizon, Willy Barbo, and Regina Sebial prevailed in their respective divisions.

Dizon reigned supreme in the men’s 45-and-below, timing in at 1:26:17 and beating Aldrin Sta. Ana and Ariel Garcia in a photo finish.

The men’s 46-and-above division was also a neck-and-neck battle with Barbo crossing the finish line at the 1:26:54 mark, just a second ahead of Cesar Fortaleze. Renato Calage completed the Top 3 with his 1:28:41.

In the women’s division, Sebial made it to the finish line at Mariana Resort at the 1:07:53 mark, about 16 minutes faster that Esther Ada (1:24:06). Other women’s finishers were Marian Aldan-Pierce (1:31:25), and Juanita Fajardo (1:34:26).

The road bike course had bikers leaving Mariana Resort for Banzai Cliff and Mobil Tanapag and back to the start/finish line. Participants in the men’s race did three laps of the course, while female riders made two.