Vaseline Men XTERRA Off Road Triathon | Race Results and Review
Congratulations to the winners and finishers of the super tough 2012 Vaseline Men Xterra Off Road Triathlon! SWIMBIKERUN.ph went all the way to Liloan Cebu just to cover the event for you guys!
To the participants how was the race? Rate the race by using our ratings system above.
Also, don’t forget to share your experience with us! Email us your race story at [email protected]!
the finish arc
Over 150+ warrior athletes set out and conquered the grueling 1.5k swim, 35k bike, and 10k run off road triathlon. We were supposed to join the race at the last minute of decided to just enjoy the sights and sounds of the events and cheer the athletes on! After the race, we were 100% sure we made the right decision!
10 mins before gun start
We arrived at the race venue about 20 minutes before the start. Just in time to mingle and talk with some of the warriors and wish them goodluck.
with Coach Rio
The music was blaring and the atmosphere was really festive! Spectator support was awesome as well!
hundreds of locals attended the event and cheered for the athletes
I felt mixed emotions as soon as the gun fired being on the other side of the racing spectrum once again and seeing the warriors conquer the 1.5k open water swim. The water was cold and calm which allowed most of the athletes to set p.r.’s in the swim leg. Some athletes even broke their personal best by 5 minutes!
5 mins before the start
The event was star studded. Proof that triathlon is really on its way into becoming a mainstream sport! We can only hope! :) Spotted celebrities at the scene were Richard Gutierrez, Drew Arellano, Paolo Abrera, Jericho Rosales who did the 10k relay run, Matteo Guidicelli, and of course, Annabelle Rama and Eddie Gutierrez.
After the swim, athletes slowly trickled their way into the transition area for the bike leg. Some athletes took their time to change into proper mountain biking gear and I can’t blame em! After the race, most of the riders were forced to get off their bikes and walk some parts of the really technical course!
Pro athlete Matt O’halloran was the first one out of the water
Sen. Pia taking her time
SLS3 was well represented at the event!
As the warriors went out for the bike leg, that was the time when we were finally able to sit back and enjoy the atmosphere. It was also nice seeing the organizers themselves being 100% hands on with the event. Suffering in the heat with the athletes and making sure everything went as smooth as possible.
not everyday you get to see Fred Uytengsu as a race marshall
After the race the athletes were treated to a sumptuous brunch where as expected, the hungry athletes devoured everything in sight!
the brunch area
packed with athletes!
All in all, the event was a huge success and everybody had a great time! Most of the racers that we talked to after the race were in high spirits and can’t wait to race the 2013 edition, including us!
Here’s the presser from the Xterra Website!
Renata Bucher and Ben Allen took the early lead then withstood every challenge to rule the most extreme racing competition on the planet, the Vaseline Men XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon, held here March 18.
Bucher, who is from Switzerland, asserted her will early to post a wire-to-wire victory in the Women’s Professional category finishing the race with a time of two hours, 30 minutes and five seconds. Bucher took the lead right from the start. “The Swiss Miss” was the first woman out of the cold waters of the Camotes Sea and was also the first woman to transition from the bike stage into the run stage of the competition.
Allen, who is from Australia, also made his move early overtaking swim stage leader Mathieu O’Halloran in the early part of the bike stage. He then put distance between himself and the rest of the field, finishing the race in 2:30:05 to grab the title in the Men’s Professional category.
XTERRA is the grueling sport of triathlon (swim, bike, run) taken to the extreme with the bike ride and the run taken off the road and into dirt paths of mud, gravel, ditches, jagged rocks and other hazards designed to test the limits of the skill, strength and resolve of the competitors.
Olivier Marceau of France finished in second place in the Professional Men’s category with a time of 2:32:22. Cedric Lassonde from the United Kingdom took home third place honors with a time of 2:32:38.
Jacqui Slack, with a time of 2:56:39, placed second to Bucher. In third place was Daz Parker who submitted a time of 3:29:44. Both Slack and Parker are from the United Kingdom.
A member of the Philippine Senate Senator Pia Cayetano finished with a time of 4:35:33. She was second to Lynda Scott, 3:56:14, in the Female age group 45-49.
Beacon-Five fingers ruled the Female Team category. Reuben Tri Team prevailed in the Male Team category. In second place is Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco’s own team Abante Liloan. In third is Team NFYNEAT.
Neil Catiil is the top Filipino Male Elite with a time of 2:54:47. In second is Elmo Clarabal (3:02:88). In third is Arland Macasieb (3:07:11).
Rochelle Tan topped the Female Elite category with a time of 4:19:10. In second is Loveleinell Casidsid (5:24:03).
Metrografix-Brick dominated the Mixed Team category clocking 2:38:05. Team Tuatara was second with a time of 3:15:01. Bonebreaker clocked a time of 3:27:40 which was good enough for third place.
Jemely Dinopol topped the Female 20-24 age group with a time of 5:10:44. Other Female age group winners are: Pen Nepomuceno, 25-29; Camilla Brooks, 30-34; Silvia Tiezzi, 35-39; and Yoshimi Yasue, 40-44.
John Ronnel Uy topped the Male 15-19 age group with a time of 3:25:12. Other Male age group winners are: Vicente Lorenzo Cabahug, 20-24; Daniel Neilson, 25-29; Felipe Sajulga III, 30-34; Charles Fortier, 35-39; Richard Santiago, 40-44; Jerome Georges, 45-49; Juan Jose Bonin, 50-54; Jose Ricardo Dizon, 55-59; and Oscar Escudero, Jr., 60-64.
Winners in the Vaseline Men XTERRA Weekend qualify to the XTERRA World Championship to be held in Maui, Hawaii on Oct. 28. There are 37 slots given to the top finishers in the 13 age groups for male and female.
The Vaseline Men XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon Series is sponsored by Alaska Milk, 2XU, LBC, the Philippine Star, Timex, Gatorade, Prudential Guarantee, Air Phil Express, MultiSport, Studio 23, David’s Salon.
Source : www.xterraphil.com
We’ll post the rest of the results of the Vaseline Men XTERRA Off Road Triathlon once we get it from the organizers!
