BAUTISTA, WALLACE STRONGEST ON GUAM ONCE AGAIN

By Paradis Jolie Fejerang/Eriele Salas

The titles of Guam’s Strongest Man and Woman stay with their respective reigning champions, Elton Bautista and Brittney Wallace, after GSPN’s 2023 I Mås Metgot Competition Sunday night.

At the Governor Joseph Flores Beach Park in Ypao, Bautista and Wallace both racked up the points by placing first in five out of the six events of the competition. Bautista losing his winning streak during the Pacific Unlimited Backhoe Pull whilst Wallace lost hers to newcomer and birthday girl, Tanya Gillins, during the Michelob Ultra Keg Toss.

Miara LG Ruiz finished an impressive second place for the women despite being the lightest competitor. Meanwhile, Ariel Delos Reyes finished in second place in the men’s division for the third straight year.

Starting the event off, GSPN and the competitors stood for a moment of silence in tribute to Joe Gå’ga’ Pangelinan. Gå’ga’’s competition in the first ever I Mås Metgot Competition in 2021 and consistent support for athletes was well-missed throughout the event.

ALL PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE BANSIL

Triple J Ford Truck Pull

To kick off the event, competitors had to pull a Ford F150 truck along the Ypao park pavement. Miara LG Ruiz was first up to strap in on the burning pavement with the defending champion for the males, Bautista, closing the category with the fastest time of the day pulling a brand new F250.

Women

1st – Brittney Wallace, 35.06

2nd – Tanya Gillins, 50.66

3rd – Jacinta Sumagaysay, 51.47

4th – Miara LG Ruiz, 1:20.79

Men

1st – Elton Bautista, 33.16

2nd – Ariel Delos Reyes, 35.38

3rd – J.J. Ambrose, 48.97

4th – Peter San Nicolas, 49.00

Paradise Fitness Hex Carry

Athletes had to head 90 ft. down inside the big pavilion to a turnaround point and all the way back for the hex carry with females lifting 250 lbs. and males lifting with an extra hundred for a total of 350 lb. to hang onto. The only time the competitors are allowed to drop the weights and reset is at the halfway mark, though taking the allotted break is not necessary – and, to some, not preferred – as time will continue to run, regardless. If the weights are dropped anywhere besides the designated area, time is stopped and the distance is considered for placement. All but two, Sumagaysay and Gillans, were able to make it down and back, both women suffering from a loss of grip before dropping during their sets.

Women

1st – Brittney Wallace, 39.28

2nd – Miara LG Ruiz, 46.05

3rd – Tanya Gillins, drops at 165 ft.

4th – Jacinta Sumagaysay, drops at 80 ft.

Men

1st – Elton Bautista, 36.82

2nd – Ariel Delos Reyes, 40.05

3rd – Peter San Nicolas, 52.65

4th – J.J. Ambrose, 52.85

Pacific Tyre/CTD Tire Flip

With approximately 75 ft to cross, athletes were timed for how long it takes to flip their tire from one end to the other where time will stop as soon as any part of the tire crosses the finish line. If, for any reason, the athletes were unable to complete this event, the number of flips partaken would be considered for placement. There were two tires for the male and female divisions. The tire for the females weighing 400 lbs, while the males take on a slimmer but heavier obstacle in a 650 lb tire.

Women

1st – Brittney Wallace, 58.38

2nd – Miara LG Ruiz, 1:03.65

3rd – Jacinta Sumagaysay, 1:25.53

4th – Tanya Gillins, 1:32.27

Men

1st – Elton Bautista, 34.06

2nd – J.J. Ambrose, 44.09

3rd – Ariel Delos Reyes, 44.84

4th – Peter San Nicolas, 1:25.63

Michelob Ultra Keg Toss

In this event, the athletes were competing to throw kegs over an eight foot line on the beach volleyball court outside of the big pavilion. They would have two minutes to see how many they could toss over, and the number of that would determine their ranking on the board. The female keg weighed 40 lbs, while the male weighed half more at 50 lbs. For the females, Gillins’ kettlebell style swing gave her the win with 13 good tosses. This was the lone event that Wallace did not win.

For the males, Bautista stacked up an amazing number at 29 throws, almost tossing it over in the form of a basketball jump shot, making it look too easy.

Women

1st – Tanya Gillins, 13 throws

2nd – Brittney Wallace, 9 throws

3rd – Miara Ruiz, 8 throws

4th – Jacinta Sumagaysay, 4 throws

Men

1st – Elton Bautista, 29 throws

2nd – Arial Delos Reyes, 19 throws

3rd – JJ Ambrose, 17 throws

4th – Peter San Nicolas, 14 throws

Pacific Unlimited Backhoe/Tractor Seated Pull

As the sun went down, the lights came on for the John Deere Backhoe and Tractor Pull event. Competitors were given a mat to sit upon and a rope that was attached to the backhoe 100 feet away. For the females, the backhoe weighed approximately 5000 lbs, while the males pulled an astonishing 17,000 lbs. This was the only event that Bautista didn’t win as Delos Reyes pulled the backhoe the fastest. In fact, Bautista finished in 3rd place, his lowest showing of the day.

A huge crowd of beachgoers even joined in to watch the athletes perform!

Women

1st – Brittney Wallace, 1:42

2nd – Miara Ruiz, 1:43

3rd – Jacinta Sumagaysay, 2:13

4th – Tanya Gillins, 2:59

Men

1st – Arial Delos Reyes, 1:40

2nd – JJ Ambrose, 1:55

3rd – Elton Bautista, 2:03

4th – Peter San Nicolas, 2:48

IT&E Mini Truck Lift

Closing the event, athletes had to deadlift a mini Japanese truck for however many reps they could do in two minutes. The females lifted the truck itself which weighed at 350 lbs, while the males lifted with a guy in the bed of the truck, and it weighed at 600 lbs.

For Wallace and Bautista, they capped off a dominated day to finished off with style to take home the I Mås Metgot Championship Belt. All athletes fed off the inspired crowd as the dug down deep to pull more than they could on the rush and adrenaline.

Women

1st – Brittney Wallace, 30 lifts

2nd – Miara Ruiz, 25 lifts

3rd – Jacinta Sumagaysay, 19 lifts

4th – Tanya Gillins, 1 lift

Men

1st – Bautista, 35 lifts

2nd – Delos Reyes, 30 lifts

3rd – Ambrose, 22 lifts

4th – San Nicolas, 21 lifts