
Reigning Southeast Asian Games triathlon champions John Chicano and Kim Mangrobang lived up to their billing by ruling the 2021 National Duathlon Trials on Sunday at the Clark Parade Grounds in Pampanga.
Chicano displayed his experience by clocking 1 hour, 55 minutes and 27 seconds to dominate the men’s elite, while Mangrobang timed 2:14:57 in the distaff side of the run-bike-run event.
Raymund Torio made heads turn by finishing second behind Chicano in 1:56:49, while Andrew Kim Remolino, who finished silver in the 2019 SEAG triathlon, came in third in 1:58:38.
Raven Faith Alcoseba (2:16:04) and Alexandra Ganzon (2:16:22), meanwhile, finished second and third in the women’s elite.
Other results saw Matthew Justine Hermosa capturing the men’s sprint title in 1:05:08, and Gene Heart Quiambao winning the women’s sprint in 1:12:23.
It was a successful competition as far as Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) president Tom Carrasco is concerned after the pandemic hampered the staging of local races over the last two years.
The race, which is part of the selection process for the PH team that will compete in the 31st SEAG in Vietnam next year, also had surprise discoveries like Torio and men’s fourth-placer Jarwyn Banatao.
“We will consider him in the duathlon shortlist along with Banatao. For female, we will pick up two to three from the finishers for the shortlisting,” said Carrasco, adding Chicano and Mangrobang are already assured of spots to the SEAG-bound PH team.
Carrasco also said they are selecting the winners as new members of the developmental team.