March 29, 2024

Nine athletes from Baguio City finished strong in the Ironman 70.3 held in Subic Bay on March 6. 
Jet Ramos of the Baguio-Benguet triathlon team placed second overall in the full marathon at 140 miles with a time of 10 hours, 39 minutes, and 48 seconds.
JT Gonzales of 2600 Tri Team also placed second in the 55 to 59 years old age category with a time of 11:51:56 while his teammate Raul Gaerlan was also second-place finisher in the 50 to 54 age group with a time of 11:49:10 time.
On the female side, Marissa Cayowet of 2600 Tri team placed third place out of 17 female racers in the full marathon with a time of 13:21:09. 
Independent triathlete Henna Lokino placed third in the 18 to 24 age group.
The half marathon race was a sweep by the Baguio-Benguet tri team led by young gun Maynard Pecson taking the top spot with a time of 4:45:28 followed by Josh Ramos at 4:47:54, and Benguet Electric Cooperative lineman Reagan Nabua on third place at 4:49:28.
Lou Ann Ramos of Baguio-Benguet tri team, meanwhile, placed third in the half marathon with a time of 06:44:59.
Jet Ramos said it was the first time that eight athletes from the highland were podium finishers, as the Ironman race is usually dominated by runners from Lanao and Cebu.
The podium finishers have qualified for the 140.6-mile World Ironman Championships in Kona, Hawaii this October.
Jet, who coaches young members of Baguio-Benguet tri team with his wife, Lou, said the highland teams have a good training ground in the city owing it to its weather especially when it comes to running and biking. The bigger challenge among highland athletes; is swimming.
“Most of us had difficulty in swimming. We need to go to La Union to train in swimming since we do not have pools here,” Jet said.  
Other Baguio athletes who participated in the grueling race were Stanley Ng, Robert Nadonga for the full marathon. Those who competed in half marathon were Kenneth del Rosario, Esteban Cauton, Gerald Costa, and Marissa Dacayanan. – Ofelia C. Empian