31 Jan Race Report: 2025 Started with a Splash!
The Aquathlon of the MetaSprint Series kicked off the triathlon season last Sunday 26 January on Sentosa Island. Athletes arrived at Palawan Beach like puppies leaving the litter – curious and somewhat anxious at first, but soon after bouncing around with excitement.
SEA Games Selection Race
Before the main event, Singapore’s National Athletes lined up for a SEA Games 2025 selection race featuring a 500m swim and 2.5km run. Bryce Chong, the 2022 SEA Games Aquathlon bronze medalist and multiple-time MetaSprint Series Aquathlon champion, led the swim with three rising stars in his wake: Teh Yi Jun, Reyes Loh and Lim Cheng Yu. Veteran Chong held strong and beat last year’s Aquathlon Champion, Teh Yi Jun, to the line in a sprint a deux. In the women’s selection race, Herlene Yu who led from start to finish, ahead of Lim Wan Ting and Regine Goh. A total of 8 men and 2 women made the ‘A Cut’ in the hunt for a coveted spot at the SEA Games.
Champion of Champions
As is tradition, the MetaSprint Series featured a showdown between Singapore’s fastest men and women for the coveted ‘Champion of Champions’ title. The women were given a head start of 4 minutes and 23 seconds, and the first athlete across the line – man or woman – would take the crown. After a strong swim, Melanie Speet and Iona Bevan extended their lead over male challengers, Clayton Cumming and Benoit Besnier. However, it was Besnier who stormed past the women on the 5km run to cross the line in 29:48, claiming the first victory for the men. The men take the first win, but the women will have their shot at redemption in the upcoming Duathlon.
The surprise performance of the day came from Suzie Fielding, who stormed through the Sprint race in 32:41, making her the fastest woman of the event despite starting in a later wave.
With an incredible start to the season, all eyes now turn to the MetaSprint Series Duathlon—who’s ready for the next challenge?
Sprint Men and Women’s podium:
| Men | Women |
| 1. Benout Besnier 29:48 👑 | 1. Suzy Fielding 32:41 |
| 2. Kayato Ukai 30:31 | 2. Itsuko Tanaka 35:26 |
| 3. Finn Bannister 30:39 | 3. Maya Judd 35:27 |
The 70+ years bold category
Triathlon truly is for all ages! Athletes in the Sprint distance compete in 5-year age categories, and for the first time in the 18-year history of the MetaSprint Series Aquathlon, the Men’s 70-74 category saw a competitive podium with all three steps taken. Tony Seakins claimed the title with a time of 41:57, with Peter Allen and Hans Bock joining him on the stage.
Aquathlon unlimited
Benson Tan, despite his intellectual disability, proved that nothing should hold you back, as he powered through the Sprint race with guide Bryce Chong. Two youths with cerebral palsy and special needs also completed their races with outstanding performances.
Every winner was once a beginner
Kudos to all the Aquathlon first timers who took the plunge! The Discovery distance (250m swim and 2.5km run) provided a confidence-boosting challenge for many, with some surprisingly fast times. Claudio Mastellone (M16-39) and Cindy Reid (F40+) excelled in the short and sharp racing and were the fastest finishers in 15:19 and 17:54.
Youth athletes also impressed, racing the same distance. Flyn O’Neill (M12-13) gave older boys in the older 14-15 year old category a real run for their money, beating all but 2 of them in a time of 13:58. Ethan Chang clinched the M14-15 category in 13:48. In the girls race, Luisa Palmer (F14-15) and Celeste Chew (F12-13) ruled the roost with finish times of 15:00 and 16:11.
Start them young!
It was the turn of the kids under 12 years old to unleash their energy on a 150 swim and 1.5km run. Like seasoned pros, they blitzed through the course. Denton Koh (M10-11) and Jacob Barter (M8-9) led the boys’ race home in 9:25 and 9:55, while Diana Fekete (F10-11) and Estelle Kim (F8-9) took the top spots for the girls with times of 9:34 and 12:39.
The day wrapped up with cuteness overload in the Fun Kids splash & dash. Kids as young as 4 years old had a splashing good time swim-wading through the surf and dashing off on a 500m run, just like the big kids.
The buzz was real at the festival area with athletes celebrating their achievements with friends and families, or simply relaxing to the DJ’s beats in the tropical beach setting of Sentosa. The awards ceremony, where winners proudly showed their trophies, concluded the event at a high note.
