Veterans show way in IT&E Saipan Duathlon
- Nap Dizon slows down, as he makes a turn at the bike-run transition area during last Saturday’s IT&E 3rd Saipan Duathlon/Sprint Triathlon held at Paupau Beach. (Contributed Photo)
- Participants in last Saturday’s IT&E 3rd Saipan Duathlon/Sprint Triathlon pose for a group photo at Paupau Beach. (Contributed Photo)
The old-timers led the finishers list of last Saturday’s IT&E 3rd Saipan Duathlon/Sprint Triathlon.
In the duathlon, Nap Dizon came out on top of the men’s division after completing the 2.5-kilometer run, 15K bike, and 1.5K run (short course) in 1:09:00 or nearly 11 minutes ahead of runner-up Andrew Estepa (1:20:06). Renato Barros rounded out the Top 3 after checking in at 1:23:41.
In the women’s field, another veteran, Ayano Braxton, won her one-on-one showdown against Zaiyra Ganacias, as the former reached the finish line at Paupau Beach at the 1:06:41 mark, while the latter registered 1:23:24.
In the long course, which had participants doing a 5K run, 20K bike, and 2.5K run, the returning Kimiko McKagan logged 1:36:11 in the women’s field to edge young gun Tania Tan (1:41:11) and Shawn Benfleck. In the men’s division, there was only one competitor in Raymund Tolentino, who had the second best time in the entire field after recording 1:19:41.
Krakens had the fastest time in the long course after posting 1:05:49. Cavaliers (1:21:30), Team KV (1:28:35), and Team Japinay were the other entries in the relay division.
Meanwhile, Emily Northrop and Carlo Canepa were the top finishers in the sprint triathlon race.
Northrop completed the 700m swim, 20K bike, and 5K run in 1:19:56 to rule the women’s field and beat Robyn Spaeth (1:41:17), Kathy Ruszala (1:45:07), and Janet King (1:45:10). In the men’s division, Canepa won against seven others after timing in at 1:21:165. Tyce Mister and Mark Isip made it to the podium after recording 1:22:11 and 1:27:41, while other finishers were Floro Derexes (1:33:21), John Moreno (1:34:32), Robert Torres (1:42:28), Will Ordosgoiti (1:44:38), and Colin Thompson (1:45:09).
The IT&E 3rd Saipan Duathlon/Sprint Triathlon kicked off the Road to Tagaman Race Series. The next leg—IT&E 4th Saipan Aquathlon/10K Run Race—will be held on Feb. 2, while the last—IT&E Sprints and Olympic Distance Triathlon—will take place on March 16.