OLONGAPO CITY, Zambales -- Australian Luke Bate and South Korean Jeong Hye Rim dominated the elite category in the 2024 Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Freeport Boardwalk on Saturday, May 4.

The 6-foot-1 Bate claimed victory in the men's division after posting the best aggregate time of 54 minutes and 25 seconds in the race held over 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run.

Compatriot Christopher Deegan settled for second place with a time of 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 Bate, who was born in Perth but is now residing in Wollongong City. He is currently No. 8 in Australia. 

Cebuano Andrew Kim Remolino, who won two silvers in triathlon and one silver in duathlon at the SEA Games, clocked 56:09 for 13th place, while provincemate Matthew Justine Hermosa (56:38) was 16th. 

 Joshua Ramos of Baguio Benguet Triathlon (56:53), 19th, and Filipino-Spanish Fernando Jose Casares, a two-time SEAG gold winner, was 23rd with a time of 57:44.

Meanwhile, Jeong registered 1:01:22 to secure the women's title in the event organized by the event presented by NTT and Asian Triathlon and organized by Triathlon Philippines in cooperation with SBMA.

Edda Hannesdottir of Iceland clocked 1:01:32 to take the silver medal while Chloe Bateup of Australia bagged the bronze medal with a time of 1:01:47.

Indonesia's Martina Ayu Pratiwi (1:02:11) was fourth followed by Japan's Manami Hayashi (1:02:15), Filipino Raven Faith Alcoseba (1:02:20), Guam's Manami Iijima (1:02:31), Japan's Himeka Sato (1:02:38) and South Korea's Kim Gyuri (1:03:19) and Kim Ji Yeon (1:03:50). 

"It's too hot, except for the weather, I'm okay," said the 25-year-old Jeong, speaking through an interpreter. 

Jeong, who hails from Daejon City,  placed 20th last year and was only hoping for a podium finish.

"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," said Jeong,  who pocketed the bronze medal in the junior division of the 2016 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in Cozumel, Mexico.

Jeong debuted at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games where she won the silver medal in the mixed relay. At the 2022 Hangzhou Asiad, she was seventh in the individual event. 

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.