The country’s best duathletes are set to participate in the 2022 National Duathlon Championships (NDC) which will commence on December 4 at New Clark City.
SEA Games medalists Fer Casares, Kim Mangrobang, Andrew Kim Remolino, Raven Alcoseba and John Chicano will lead the national team also composed of Raymund Torio, Ephraim Inigo, Jarwyn Banatao, Joy Trupa, Elaine Quismundo, Moira Erediano, Jena Valdez, Maynard Pecson and John Ciron in their quest for top honors in what is already the first and biggest sporting event of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) held at New Clark City. Distances include the Standard Distance course of 10 Km run – 40 Km bike – 5 Km run as well as a Sprint Distance course of 5Km run – 20 Km bike – 2.5 Km run and a Super Sprint Distance course of 2.5 Km run – 10 Km bike – 2.5 Km run.
The event sponsored by Standard Insurance, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Inc. and POCARI Sweat will serve as part of the selection process for the composition of the national pool members who will compete in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games (2023 SEA Games) in Cambodia. Malaysia for its part, confirmed they will use the NDC for their selection of their squad to the 2023 SEA Games. The race is also part of TRAP’s grassroot program to discover young and potential athletes who can be part of TRAP’s developmental team.
Online registration is still ongoing at RaceYaya.com. Registration fees cover the cost of participation, timing chip rental, race bib, bike & helmet stickers, the finisher’s medal, event shirt and light post-race snack. Previously, the NDC was scheduled for November 27 but was eventually rescheduled for December 4 to give way to another event at Clark.
The Tagudin, Ilocos Sur Triathlon & Duathlon 2022 is a special project of the Municipality of Tagudin in Ilocos Sur province in cooperation with the Triathlon Association of the Philippines supported by many sponsors and stakeholders. Online registration will last until July 10, 2022.
A joint project of the organizing Municipality of Tagudin headed by Mayor Roque S. Verzosa, Jr., in cooperation with Chili Grass and the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP), a Standard Distance duathlon (10 Km run – 40 Km bike – 5 Km run) and a Sprint Distance duathlon (5 Km run – 20 Km bike – 5 Km run) will take place on July 23 (Saturday). The next day, the Standard Distance triathlon (1.5 Km swim – 40 Km bike – 10 Km run) and a Sprint Distance triathlon (750 M swim – 20 Km bike – 5 Km run) will take place. Each event will have its own awarding ceremony on their set dates.
At stake in the event supported by SMART, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines (ACIP), FINIS, ATAW Marketing, Standard Insurance, NLEX Corporation, and Fitbar are cash prizes worth P15,000, P10,000 and P5,000 for the Standard Elite Distance Top 3 Men and Top 3 Women in both the triathlon and duathlon. Meanwhile, cash prizes for the Standard Distance Age Group Top 5 Men and Top 5 Women in both triathlon and duathlon have been set.
Set to participate in the event are members of the National Triathlon Team led by John Chicano and 31st SEA Games medalists Andrew Kim Remolino and Raven Faith Alcoseba. Also joining are other national and developmental pool members such as Ramund Torio, Josh Ramos, Aki Lorbes, Wacky Baniqued, JC Abad, Ephraim Inigo, Moira Erediano, Heart Quiambao, Alex Ganzon, Kaye Burgos and Kira Ellis.
Online registration for the Tagudin, Ilocos Sur Triathlon & Duathlon has been extended until July 10, 2022. Registration fees cover the cost of participation, swim cap, timing chip rental, race bib, bike & helmet stickers, the finisher’s medal and event shirt.
To see the complete details of pre-race and post-race activities schedules as well as the lists for each wave of participants, visit the separate triathlon and duathlon pages of the Tagudin, Ilocos Sur Triathlon & Duathlon at RaceYaya.com .
As the 31st Southeast Asian Games (AKA the 31st SEA Games, SEA Games 31 and Hanoi 2021) in Vietnam comes closer, the excitement and suspense grow stronger which naturally comes with foreseeing the outcome (note: positions and medals) in certain sports events. For this, we will focus on the triathlon and duathlon events of this year’s SEA Games through what was mentioned during the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s (PSA)recent livestream that had 2019 SEA Games gold medalist John Chicano and triathlon-duathlon coach Melvin Fausto as guests which the Manila Bulletin reported about.
Going back to the current topic, Chicano and Fausto were interviewed live by the PSA and you can watch the full video at https://fb.watch/cDsxPptWcH/
2019 SEA Games gold medalist John Chicano and coach Melvin Fausto (lower-right corner) during the PSA livestream of April 26, 2022.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin sports report about the PSA livestream. Some parts in boldface…
The Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) guns for 1-2 finishes in the triathlon and duathlon events of the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam next month.
National team coach Melvin Fausto disclosed this Tuesday, adding they are sending their strongest teams to achieve that goal.
The triathlon squad is composed of Fer Casares, Kim Remolino, Kim Mangrobang and Raven Alcoseba, with John Chicano and Lauren Plaza as reserves.
The duathlon crew, meanwhile, will have Chicano, Raymund Torio, Mangrobang and Alex Ganzon Dumaran with Casares and Alcoseba as reserves.
Fausto said the shift of Chicano from triathlon to duathlon is a strategic move to achieve that gold medal.
Chicano competed and won the gold in triathlon at the 2019 SEAG edition.
“Si John kasi, he’s a strong runner like Raymund. Duathlon talaga siya malakas, so yun yung wino-work out natin ngayon,” Fausto said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum.
For Chicano, it would be a challenge. He is also using the SEAG as a training ground for his duathlon event at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama in July.
“Sana makuha namin yung gold and silver kasi maganda naman yung teammup namin ni Raymund,” Chicano said.
“Pukpukan din yung preparation namin dito sa Clark.”
Aside from the medals, Fausto said they are also seek to improve their athletes’ times by aiming to finish under one hour and 50 minutes in triathlon.
“Mas focused na tayo sa time ngayon eh. Part na yun ng strategy. Like nung last SEAG, naka-focus kami mag 1:55 sa triathlon tapos nag-1:53 si John for the gold medal. Ngayon ang focus namin maka 1:50 to win the gold,” Fausto said.
“Saka yung goal natin is to improve their time to world-class level, lalo na si John na qualified sa World Games.”
As you can see in the above excerpt, the stakes are high for the Philippine Team on triathlon and duathlon. They have been training intensely not just for the SEA Games (set for May 12 to 23, 2022) but also for the Subic Bay International Triathlon. They are training intensely as they know that their Southeast Asian competitors in triathlon and duathlon have intensified (see the related details in the paragraph below). They are training not just for medals but for honors for the Philippines. That being said, May 2022 is indeed a crucial month for the Philippine Team members and their coaches as they have two major events to compete in.
The notable details
During the early part of the PSA livestream, coach Melvin stated that triathlon is indeed a growing sport and in due time it will become a more relevant sport for Filipinos and Asians. The coach made clear his dedication to triathlon is very strong. Take note that he was involved during the Philippine Team’s previous SEA Games campaigns. When it comes to their SEA Games competitors, the coach mentioned Indonesia as a well-supported and growing force in triathlon. He also mentioned that competitors from Singapore, Malaysia and host country Vietnam will be present. That being said, expect fierce competition for the SEA Games triathlon and duathlon gold medals. With regards to John Chicano, things will be different as he will engage in the men’s duathlon at this year’s SEA Games. For the newcomers reading this, duathlon is a multisport event with a run-bike-run format.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about the triathlon and duathlon events in the SEA Games this year? Do you believe the Philippines will win gold and silver in the SEA Games triathlon and duathlon events? Do you intend to visit Subic Bay to watch in person the SUBIT on May 1? Do you plan to travel all the way to Vietnam to watch the SEA Games events in-person?
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the CNN Philippines article. Some parts in boldface…
The country’s triathlon team is boasting a lineup of household names eyeing to continue its regional dominance in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam next month.
Speaking to CNN Philippines, Triathlon Association of the Philippines president Tom Carrasco emphasized that the bunch of household names should give the country some considerable edge over opponents.
Kim Mangrobang, who ruled the 2019 SEA Games women’s individual event at Subic Bay, is set to banner the female team anew as she will be backed by former De La Salle University varsity swimmer Raven Faith Alcoseba and Lauren Plaza as a reserve.
Mangrobang secured the gold while compatriot Kim Kilgroe clinched the silver three years ago.
The same finish was tallied by the Philippine men’s triathlon team that year, with John Chicano taking home the gold and Andrew Kim Remolino nabbing the silver.
Come Vietnam, Remolino and fellow star Fernando Casares will aim to duplicate the feat, while defending champion Chicano sits kingly on the reserve list.
Meanwhile, Chicano is shifting focus to rule the duathlon event as he will be joined by Raymund Torio and reserve Casares in the men’s squad.
Mangrobang will have no rest as she will anchor the distaff side along with Alexandra Dumaran and Alcoseba as a reserve.
In 2019, Monica Torres snagged the gold in the women’s individual duathlon event while Joey Delos Reyes settled for a silver medal for the men’s side. Torres, Efraim Inigo, Paui Fornea, and Emmanuel Comendador clinched the bronze medal in the mixed relay category.
Ani De Leon, Melvin Fausto, and George Vilog are tapped as coaches of the Hanoi-bound Philippine triathlon team.
For the newcomers reading this, the mentioned Philippine Team triathletes/duathletes will be competing first in the Subic Bay International Triathlon set for May 1 at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone before proceeding to Vietnam for the SEA Games triathlon and duathlon races. If you happen to be here in the Philippines and you are interested to see Mangrobang, Chicano, Remolino, Casares, Alcoseba and Torio in person, then I encourage you to visit Subic Bay and watch the May 1 triathlon live.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Are you excited about the triathlon and duathlon events of the SEA Games in Vietnam? Do you think that the Philippines will successfully win the gold medals in both multisports events at the SEA Games? Do you plan to watch the Subic Bay International Triathlon on May 1 in person to see the above mentioned Philippine Team triathletes/duathletes perform? How many triathletes or triathlon enthusiasts are there in your local community right now?
Author Carlo Carrasco 