Fancied Burgos, Ramos put away Elite fields in Bohol 5150

Erika Burgos and Dayshaun Ramos performed according to pre-race hype, ruling their respective Filipino Elite divisions in the landmark 10th staging of the Sun Life 5150 Bohol Triathlon in Panglao Island in Bohol on Sunday.

In ruling the women’s event, Burgos clocked two hours, 28 minutes and 33 seconds for the 1.5-kilometer swim, 40 km bike and 10 km run race with some of the island’s most scenic spots as background, as she scored a great follow-up to her Guimaras triumph last March.

Ramos, meanwhile, held off older brother Joshua with a margin of close to three minutes after timing 2:09:58 for the men’s crown, with Earl James Ting (2:17:42) and Sebastian Cabusas (2:23:59) checking in third and fourth, in that order.

While the Elite champions delivered as expected, Ines Santiago emerged as the overall champion in the women’s division, adding another major title to an already decorated résumé that includes three consecutive Reyna Bulakna Awards as the fastest Filipino woman at the Kona Ironman World Championships.

She clocked 2:33:58 to beat Nicole Andaya (2:35:35) and Natasha Doromal-Lim (2:40:45), while also topping the women’s 45-49 category.

Mervin Santiago (not related to Ines) edged Jeffrey Tagalog in a dramatic finish to secure the overall men’s championship in 2:14:27, just seven seconds ahead of Paguray (2:14:34). Kristiane Lim placed third in 2:16:50.