Prestley breaks PBT in PH triathlon

Saipan triathlete Peter Prestley set a new personal best time in Olympic distance after competing in Tri United 1 last Sunday in Subic, Zambales in the Philippines.

Peter Prestley heads to the swim-bike transition area after completing the 1.5-kilometer swim in the waters off Dungaree Beach during last Sunday’s Tri United 1 in Subic, Zambales in the Philippines. (Contributed Photo)

He completed the 1.5-kilometer swim, 40K bike, and 10K run in 2:23:24, shattering the 2:28:47 he posted in last year’s Pacific Island Triathlon Championships held in Guam. Prestley had split times of 28:42 in the swim leg and 1:07:24 and 46:18 in the bike and run parts, respectively.

Besides earning a new PBT, the Saipan triathlete also made it to the podium in the 40 to 45 age groups, as he finished third in his division. Trimac’s Lee Galdonez (2:17:45) and Fitness First’s Peter McMeekin (2:22:56) took the Top 2 finish in the age group, which had eight participants, while Australia’s Mitch Robin was the overall top finisher of the race after clocking in at 1:55:42.

“The Tri United 1 course was relatively flat which made it a really fast race,” said Prestley, who was a last-minute entry in the competition as he was in Subic for another event, but found out about the race and decided to give it a try.

On race day, he missed the briefing and was greeted by around 800 participants getting ready to plunge into the waters off Dungaree Beach.

“There was some current during the swim, but no waves or chop to deal with. I did get a jellyfish sting on my hand, but nothing major,” the 40-year-old triathlete said.

“The bike course was a little exposed to cross-winds so my strategy was just to stay tucked and aero and find a pace that I could maintain for an hour. Luckily, I didn’t have any mechanical issues or flat tires despite some rugged sections of road that took a chunk out of my rear tire. I didn’t notice it until after the race though, so it was a non-issue. In the run, the only problem was the heat, but I’m used to that from training on Saipan. I finished 3rd in the 40-45 age group, which is always one of the most competitive age categories. The Bike King/Tri United people were extremely nice and I hope more Saipan people come to try their races,” he added.

After the Tri United 1, up next for Prestley is the Century Tuna Ironman 70.3, the tournament that brought the Saipan bet to Subic. The competition has a half-Ironman course and will be held on March 8.

“It a longer half-Ironman distance race that will have much more climbing and will attract a lot more pros because it’s an Ironman branded event,” Prestley said.

Prestley is using the two competitions in the Philippines to prepare for this month’s XTERRA Saipan and Tagaman Triathlon.

“I hope that both of these races will prepare me for the Tagaman and Xterra Saipan. I’ll be entering the long course (70.3/half-iron distance) race for the Tagaman and trying to qualify for Maui again during the XTERRA Saipan,” he said.