BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Endurance athletes from this highly-urbanized city stormed through several gruelling races held in different parts of the country even as a super storm that did not make landfall was moving across the Philippines.
In the Spartan Race 2023 Philippine leg in Porac, Pampanga, two teams from two fitness hubs here finished in various categories of the race billed as an “extreme wellness platform.”
Paula Locson was the youngest finisher for the Shape Up Center Spartan Race Team-Bacolod, placing fourth in the 18 to 24 age category while Ruby Grace Verde funished first in her age category (55 to 59) as Leslie Bernardo and Kieven Olis also placed fourth in the women and men, respectively, in the same age category (35 to 39).
Borge Arriola, on the other hand, finished fourth in the 25 to 29 category.
Aside from Locson, Verde, Bernardo, Olis, and Arriola, the rest of the team – physician Joseph Jiao, Trixie Abelarde, John Soria, Marijo Garcia, Gehsryl Gallesania, and JP Gonzales also finished in their respective categories.
All, except for Soria, competed in the Alviera Sprint division of the Race that involves runnimg a five-kilometer run with 20 obstacles.
Soria, assistant team leader, however, competed in the Spartan Beast, a course over 21 kilometers that involved 30 obstacles.
North Fitness Hub, on the other hand, five athletes who finished in the tougher age group division, according to Spartan Dubai veteran Karen Ann Sison who mentored the NFH team and also helped coach those in the Shape Up team.
Sison told DNX the Age Group finishers who both came in second are Jeorge Gamboa in the 45 to 49 category, Gella Mayang (30 to 39), and Edgar Dechavez (50-54) who was injured but finished 11th.
In the open division, Sprint category, Kristine Rico placed eighth among 117 participants.
Charlie Po, meanwhile, placed 35th among 78 participants.
Another finisher in the Beast Open category waa Judd Khensler Hofileña who told DNX he grew up in Tangub village here but is now based in Manila.
Apart from the Spartan Race finishers, another NFH athlete, lawyer Mary Angela Rayos Magbanua placed fourth in the Women’s Scaled Division of the Affiliate Alliance 2023 CrossFit Competition in Vermosa, Cavite.
In swimming, JR Ventura and life partner Aika Ascalon finished another Swim Junkie challenge after their initial foray in the open water swim last year.
JR told DNX he finished in the 2.5 kilometer division while Aika finished in the five kilometer one.
