Team Herald
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PANJIM: Pablo Erat of Switzerland and Blossom Fernandez of Bengaluru won the men’s and women’s elite category at the inaugural Goa Triathlon 113 event held at the Vainguinim beach and Goa University road circuit recently.
Pablo, who is five times champion of the Goa Olympic Distance Triathlon (51.5 kms) was the favourite to win the 113 kms event and did it in style with a very quick time of 4:23:33 hours.
The Swiss triathlete, who has several Ironman triathlete titles to his credit was followed by young, Pankaj Ravalu of Kolhapur who finished with a strong timing of 5:07:13 hours, while Bengaluru’s Harish Subramanian finished third in a time of 5:47:06.
In the women’s elite category, the experienced Blossom Fernandez of Bengaluru clocked an impressive, 6:43:49 hours to win first place, followed by Shilpa Phadke of Pune with 7:16:21 and Hetal Tamakuwala of Surat in 8:33:02.
In the amateur category, Goa’s Akash Agarwadekar, a lifeguard with Dhristi Marine won in an impressive timing of 5:32:06, followed by Flemingson Lazarus of Bengaluru in 6:31:41 and Sanjay Suryawanshi Ichalkaranji in 6:37:45.
Likewise, Sweden’s Petra Spencer won the women’s amateur category clocking 7:11:07, followed by Neeta Narang of Nashik in 8:54:41 and Amruda Nair of Mumbai in 9:12:56.
Pankaj Ravalu of Kolhapur and Blossom Fernandez of Bengaluru were adjudged the fastest Indian man and woman in the elite category and won special cash prizes for the same sponsored by Pablo Erat.
A total amount of Rs 1,90,000 was distributed in prize money to all podium winners.
FINAL RACE RESULTS
Elite Athlete Division (Men): 1st place: Pablo Erat (Switzerland) – 4:23:33; 2nd place: Pankaj Ravalu (Kolhapur) – 5:07:13; 3rd place: Harish Subramanian (Bengaluru) – 5:47:06
Elite Athlete Division (Women): 1st place: Blossom Fernandez (Bengaluru) – 6:43:49; 2nd place: Shilpa Phadke (Pune) – 7:16:21; 3rd place: Hetal Tamakuwala (Surat) – 8:33:02
Amateur Athlete Division (Men): 1st place: Akash Agarwadekar (Goa) – 5:32:06; 2nd place: Flemingson Lazarus (Bengaluru)- 6:31:41; 3rd place: Sanjay Suryawanshi (Ichalkaranji) – 6:37:45
Amateur Athlete Division (Women): 1st place: Petra Spencer (Sweden) – 7:11:07; 2nd place: Neeta Narang (Nashik) – 8:54:41; 3rd place: Amruda Nair (Mumbai) – 9:12:56
