MACTAN, Cebu – What was billed as a fun and lighthearted RLC Residences IRONKIDS aquathlon turned into a pulse-pounding, action-packed showdown as young triathletes transformed the event into a battlefield of speed, endurance and sheer willpower here Saturday.
With over 600 participants – doubling last year’s turnout – the event shattered expectations, delivering perhaps the most hotly contested youth aquathlon in recent years.
Held at the scenic Beachfront of Dusit Thani, the competition ignited fiery rivalries and last-second heroics across all age brackets.
In the premier 13-15 division, both the boys’ and girls’ races boiled down to breathtaking finishes that left spectators stunned.
In the girls’ race, Christy Ann Perez of Cebu emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins, edging out Lauren Lee Tan by a mere 1.19 seconds. Perez clocked 11:36.79 over the 250m swim and 2km run course.
She got off to a strong start with a 2:57 swim, narrowly ahead of Tan’s 2:59. A faster transition helped Perez carve out a critical lead, as Tan mounted a furious final sprint, recording the fastest run time (07:34) in the division – but fell heartbreakingly short of catching Perez (07:39).
Kaia Gica settled for third with a respectable time of 12:11.02.
The boys’ counterpart proved equally thrilling, with Zachary Da Silva holding off a late surge from Joseph Calustre to win in 10:24.18. Da Silva led after a 2:39 swim and withstood Calustre’s pressure during the run, finishing with a 6:53 split to seal the title.
Calustre trailed closely with a 10:34.09 finish, while Al Dustin Bersabal came in third at 10:59.12.
The 11-12 girls’ race saw Henia Go top the field with a gritty 10:18.77 over the 200m swim and 1.5km run. She narrowly beat Hanna Abayan (10:39.99), while Julia Calustre took third (10:52.35).
On the boys’ side, Hans Sampulon was dominant, clocking 09:50.93 and holding off Earl Pearson (10:20.17) and Ryuto Matsumoto (10:22.96) in a heated sprint to the finish.
The younger 9-10 athletes delivered their own brand of excitement, with Jashiva Arsua claiming a thrilling win in the girls’ side at 09:34.60, just 10 seconds ahead of Searafina Redila (09:44.16). Elli Boleng rounded out the podium in 10:27.42.
Braeden Gasal reigned supreme in the boys’ category, powering through the 150m swim and 1.5km run in 09:41.96. He was followed by Alfonso Sumabat (10:40.83) and Santino Cohen (10:42.19) in another tightly contested finish.
Even the youngest competitors showed poise and passion beyond their years.
Ami Takei blitzed the girls’ 100m swim and 1km run course in 08:18.23, outdueling Ma. Georjina Sumaje (08:26.08) and Elouise Luarez (08:34.03).
In the boys’ race, Johan Santos staged a dramatic comeback in the run leg to capture victory in 08:24.94, turning back a valiant challenge from McCarlisle Daclan (08:37.85). Xavier Belleza completed the top three at 08:54.67.
Backed by RLC Residences and organized by Sunrise Events, Inc., the IRONKIDS aquathlon became a showcase of determination, sportsmanship and youth athletic excellence, cementing its place as one of the most anticipated junior races in the country, while continuing to foster discipline, passion, and a healthy lifestyle among Filipino youth.
