Triathlon chanpions.
Photo courtesy of George Vilog
Cheers for Pinoy triathletes
TUAN CHAU, Vietnam. – Triathlon delivered as promised on Saturday, sweeping the men’s and women’s individual gold medals and perking up the Filipinos’ campaign in the 31st Vietnam Asian Games here.
Kim Mangrobang, 30, broke away from the pack in the bike leg of the 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run event and won her third straight crown pulling away in 2:13.31 while Fil-Spanish Fernando Tan Casares, 26, proved to be a very able successor to compatriot John Leerams “Rambo” Chicano, topping the men’s race in 1:56.57.
The two other Pinoy entries, Andrew Kim Remolino of Cebu City and Raven Faith Alcoseba, also made it to the podium, winning silver, and bronze medals, respectively.
“We were expecting this in the first place, but we never relaxed despite the confidence we have. They still did their homework,” said national triathlete coach George Vilog, who predicted last Friday that his wards will be good for at least two gold medals.
The two gold medals raised the country’s haul to seven, with other events still to be decided later Saturday.
Remolino, 22, retained the silver medal he won in the 2019 Philippine SEA Games by clocking 3:59.16 in the event that lured 14 entries while Alcoseba clocked 2:18:30 in the 12-women field.
Indonesian Prasetyo Inge bagged the women’s silver in 2:13:31 while another Indon, Ronald Bintang, bagged the men’s bronze in 2:01:35.
Mangrobang, who first ruled the women’s class in 2017 and repeated the trick two years later, goes for a golden double Sunday when she competes in the duathlon (bike and run) race in the company of Chicano, who topped the men’s triathlon back home three years ago. The race starts at 6 a.m.
“She (Mangrobang) had a great breakaway in the bike leg,” said Vilog, who has been coaching the national team for 12 years.
A Vietnamese and an Indonesian fought for the lead in the swim leg before Casares and Remolino outraced them in the bike and run legs.
“Casares and Remolino displayed great teamwork during the race, particularly in the bike (leg),” Vilog said.
