For the first time ever, Columbia brought its Trail Masters Off-Road Duathlon Series to Cagayan de Oro, marking the first time the company has ever staged multi-sport event in the City of Golden Friendship.
Some 112 competitors registered for the three-stage off-road race held Sunday, 25 September 2016 but only 89, including 4 females, crossed the finish line at the High Ridge Hilltop Restaurant at Barangay Macasandig.
The event was organized by Transition Productions in coordination with Columbia Sportswear in its thrust to promote an active and outdoor lifestyle.
The Cagayan de Oro Leg of the Columbia Trail Masters came on the heels of similar races held in San Mateo, Rizal (Luzon Leg) and Iloilo City (Visayas Leg).
The first lap was a six kilometer trail run which Dennis Yap, Transitions Productions Race Organizer, described as “easier, not too technical and safe for beginners.”
This was followed by a 30-kilometer mountain bike route which featured challenging 1-3 kilometer climbs over 3 loops and finally a 3-kilometer finishing lap over much of the same first leg route.
Although organizers expected all competitors to be finished after four hours, the overall winners took less than half the time to negotiate the challenging route.
Competitors came from as far as Butuan, Cebu, Davao and Lanao del Norte, with the later fielding a 40-strong contingent.

Overall winners pose for posterity with race organizers and sponsors: (L-R) Dennis Yap (Race Organizer, Transition Production) Christie Centeno (Columbia Centrio Supervisor) Satar Salem (2nd Place), Brian Borling (Overall Winner), John Rey Tumanda (3rd place) and Norj Bihag (Columbia Cluster Operations Head).
Following is the complete list of overall and category winners with their respective finishing times.
Columbia Trail Masters Off Road Duathlon Series
Cagayan de Oro Leg Winners
Over-all Male
First Place | Brian Borling | 1:41:08 |
Second Place | Satar Salem | 1:42:35 |
Third Place | John Rey Tumanda | 1:43:38 |
Over-all Female
First Place | Divine Doromal | 2:50:43 |
Second Place | Jasmin Baslot | 3:25:49 |
Third Place | Myriam Abejuela | 3:29:34 |
Male 18 to 24 year Old
First Place | John Alcala | 1:44:52 |
Second Place | Delpin Perater | 1:47:29 |
Third Place | Mark Balanay | 1:47:40 |
Male 25 to 29 year Old
First Place | Ronie Abao | 1:52:30 |
Second Place | Kevin Karl Asok | 2:02:09 |
Third Place | April John Obedencio | 2:10:44 |
Male 39 to 34 year Old
First Place | Peter Anthony Chio | 2:02:32 |
Second Place | Juvany Mercado Kiamco | 2:04:35 |
Third Place | Russell Bacawag | 2:06:00 |
Male 35 to 39 year Old
First Place | Edukol Yu | 1:51:20 |
Second Place | Warren Patrocinio | 1:51:38 |
Third Place | Jonathan Liloc | 1:56:53 |
Male 40 to 44 year Old
First Place | Juncas Castillo | 2:00:03 |
Second Place | Ronald Parantar | 2:08:20 |
Third Place | Romwell Roque | 2:34:34 |
Male 45 to 49 year Old
First Place | Michael Monoy | 2:09:40 |
Second Place | Henry Rosalejos | 2:14:01 |
Third Place | Rex Villaroza | 2:21:46 |
Male 50 and above
First Place | Teofisto Pacatang | 2:24:04 |
Second Place | Erick Leores | 2:45:17 |
Third Place | Rachito Abellanosa | 2:57:57 |
Relay
First Place | Pia Gustilo andRay Nathaniel Mangubat | 2:26:55 |
(All photos courtesy of Transition Productions)
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