Camacho leads Guam charge in ‘Hell’

Guam’s Patrick Camacho works his way up toward the Radar Hill in last Saturday’s 2015 Hell of the Marianas Century Cycle race around the island. (Jon Perez)

Patrick Camacho led a strong field of 16 male and female bikers from the CNMI’s southern island neighbor of Guam in last Saturday’s 2015 Hell of the Marianas Century Cycle race around the island of Saipan.

Three other Guam riders also topped their respective age divisions, while Tara Reyes Tydingco of Hagatna was the third best 40-49 female finisher.

The Hagatna-based Camacho finished fifth overall behind men’s road bike open division winner Ryutaro Nakamura of Chiba, Japan and three young professional riders from Taichung, Chinese-Taipei.

Camacho pedaled 19.75 miles an hour to finish the 100-kilometer race in 3:08:20, 9:20 behind fourth placer Hsuan Ping Hsu’s 2:59:00. He was also the top rider in the 30-39 age group, almost an hour ahead of fellow Guam bet Paul Cuaresma.

Cuaresma, who is from Dededo, finished 29th overall with a time of 4:03:46, while the Gimpo City, South Korea-born Byeong-Seok Jang came in third clocking 4:48:25.

Saipan’s R.J. Noriega (5:03:16), and South Korean’s Ki Ju Ryu (5:19:44) and Heecheol Lee (5:21:35) completed the Top 5 finishers in the 30-39 age division.

Chris Baguio ruled the male 18-29 division coming in 12th overall with a time of 3:26:58 with two other Guam cyclists joining him at the podium.

Timothy Wakefield of Talofofo was the runner-up registering 3:53:26, while Carlo Chow of Tamuning crossed the finish line at 4:57:52.

Ryan Snow of Piti was part of the Top 10 overall finishers to top the 40-49 age group (3:12:17), more than 15 minutes ahead of Tamuning’s Derek Horton (3:29:11) with Japan’s Katsuki Ishimatsu coming in at third (3:42:09).

Veteran multi-sport athlete Tyce Mister of Saipan was fourth (3:57:47), while Hagatna’s Manny Masculino was fifth best in the same age division (4:02:40).

Randall Reeves foiled six Saipan riders to finish on top of the 50-59 year olds. He clocked 3:28:57 against the 3:54:39 of second placer Robert Tamondong. Cesar Fortaleza was third with 4:01:02 while Russ Quinn (4:24:57) and Manny Sitchon (4:31:58) also in Top 5.

Saipan’s Jerome Diyco, the other youth rider, ruled the U17 division with a time of 3:50:21, while Mark Noble (4:54:14) bested Stephen Nutting (4:58:51) in the over-60.

Saipan’s Kanae Quinn was the fastest female age group rider to claim the 40-49 division crown. She submitted a time of 4:16:45 or close to 10 minutes ahead of compatriot Heather Kennedy (4:26:23).

Guam’s Tara Reyes Tydingco was third (4:59:34) while Glorybel Tan (5:46:01) was the other rider in the same age group.

Teen rider Angel Marie Tan (U17, 5:09:42); Hyeonu Seo (18-29, 5:23:45); Sunyong Jang (30-39, 5:45:41); and Susan Marchitti (50-59, 5:56:56) were the other age group winners.