SUBIC — Upstart Irienold Reig Jr. pulled off a stunning reversal in the talent-laden men’s side of the Alveo 5150 Subic Bay with a blistering start while Bea Quiambao turned in another superb all-around performance to nail a second 5150 crown Sunday at the Subic Bay Boardwalk.
Making his first crack at 1.5km-swim, 40km-bike and 10km-run racing, the 19-year-old Reig didn’t disappoint, dominating the opening leg in impressive 18:32, slowing down a bit in bike (1:08:58) before hanging tough in the closing run with a 41:27 time to edge Raymund Velasco for the men’s overall crown in 2:12:48.
Velasco trailed in the swim (22:44) but rallied in bike (1:04:22), only to fall short despite a 40:47 clocking in run to settle for runner-up honors (2:13:05) in a tightly-fought duel of power, speed and endurance that started in shady skies and ended in scorching heat.
Julian Teves posted a solid 1:03:27 time in bike after a 20:57 clocking in swim to wrest control but failed to match Reig and Velasco’s searing finish to end up third in 2:13:53 after a 45:14 showing in run.
Quiambao, meanwhile, timed 2:23:24 to nail her second 5150 diadem this year after winning in Bohol last July which marked the return of the event organized by the IRONMAN Group/Sunrise Events Inc. after a two-year hiatus due to pandemic.
Like Reig, the Next Tri Step stalwart used her swimming prowess to seize control and momentum, checking in with a best 19:12 clocking, then logging 1:12:10 in swim before capping her romp with a 47:45 time in run. She beat Kath Lagunsad, who timed 2:41:50 with leg times of 27:34, 1:14:32 and 53:52, while celebrity Bubbles Paraiso came in third in 2:50:48 (26:42, 1:18:23 and 1:00:12).
Quiambao also kept the 20-24 diadem while Lagunsad took the 30-34 age group honors and Paraiso lorded it over the field in 35-39 division of the last short-distance endurance event for the season.