SOUTHEAST ASIAN (SEA) Games silver medalist Andrew Kim Remolino gave the strong foreign challenge a big fight before finishing barely outside the top 10 in the ultra tough Subic Bay International Triathlon at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Freeport Boardwalk over the weekend.
Mr. Remolino, who pocketed two silvers in triathlon and another one in duathlon in the SEA Games, timed in 56 minutes and nine seconds, which was good enough for 13th place overall in the event organized by the event presented by NTT and Asian Triathlon and organized by Triathlon Philippines in cooperation with SBMA.
The silver lining though was he beat SEA Games gold winner Fernando Jose Caseres, who was 23rd overall and the third best Filipino finisher with a clocking of 57:44, or behind Joshua Ramos, who was 19th in 56:53.
Australian Luke Bate and South Korean Jeong Hye Rim dominated the elite category with the former clocking 54:25 to rule the men’s division and the latter timed in 1:01:22 to reign supreme in the women’s side of this 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run race.
Another Aussie Christopher Deegan settled for second with a 54:32 while Japan’s Amu Omuro (54:38) was third. Australians Rory Thornhill (54:48) and Jack Chrome (55:00) ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, followed by Japanese Satoshi Iwamoto (55:13), Hokuto Obara (55:28) and Kenshin Mori (55:34), Korean Kim Jusin (55:41) and Australian Samuel Mileham (55:47).
“I’ve been racing for eight years so I really wanted to win,” said the 25-year-old Mr. Bate, who was born in Perth but is now residing in Wollongong City. He is currently No. 8 in Australia.
Edda Hannesdottir of Iceland clocked 1:01:32 to take the silver medal in the women’s while Chloe Bateup of Australia bagged the bronze medal with a 1:01:47.
“It’s too hot, except for the weather, I’m okay,” said the 25-year-old Ms. Jeong, speaking through an interpreter. “I did not expect to win. It’s been six years since I first joined the tournament, so I am very happy that I won the gold medal,” she added.
In the junior elite category, the top three finishers in the men’s division were Dayshaun Karl Ramos (1:02:05), Juan Miguel Tayag (1:02:40) and Darell Johnson (1:03:22) while in the women’s division were Naomi Felicity Aytin (1:18:42), Edellaine Mae Diggs (1:18:36) and Maria Celinda Raagas (1:19:05).
The SuBIT, which is the longest running Olympic distance triathlon in Asia, is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Asian Center for Insulation, Standard Insurance, Gatorade, Western Guaranty Corp. and Fitbar. — Joey Villar