SOUTHEAST Asian Games (SEAG)-bound John Leerams Chicano and Kim Mangrobang will spearhead the country’s campaign in the Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT), which will make a return after a two-year absence on May 1 at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone 1 grounds.
Mr. Chicano and Ms. Mangrobang, who are eyeing to replicate their two-gold medal haul in the 2019 SEA Games, will use the 29th edition of the annual race as their tune up for the Hanoi event slated for May 12 to 23.
“Yes, all those going to Hanoi will join,” said Triathlon Association of the Philippines president Tom Carrasco, who organizes the Subic tilt in partnership with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Rolen Paulino.
Andrew Kim Remolino, a SEA Games silver medal winner, is also seeing action along with 30 foreign participants from Australia, India, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, USA, Poland, Taiwan and Slovakia.
Mr. Carrasco said this is the first triathlon event in two years in the country that will be participated in by international elite athletes.
“We will have a strong field,” said Mr. Carrasco.
Mr. Carrasco said he hopes they could also discover promising new talents from the race backed by SBMA, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Standard Insurance, Asian Center for Insulation Phil., Pocari Sweat and FINIS.
Mr. Chicano and Ms. Mangrobang themselves were products of SuBIT.
“I’m proud to say SuBIT has produced SEA Games champions, an Asian duathlon gold medalist and notable Asian Games performers,” said Mr. Carrasco.
Some of the young guns to watch out for are Ryan Faith Alcoseba, Gene Heart Quiambao, Erika Burgos and Matthew Hermosa among others. — Joey Villar