Asian Games: PH bets Mangrobang, Kilgore end up 7th, 9th in women’s triathlon

Marion Kim Mangrobang (R) of the Philippines, Macau’s Hoi Long (C), Taiwan’s Chang Chi-wen (2nd L) and Taiwan’s Kuo Jia-chi (L) compete in the women’s triathlon during the 2018 Asian Games in Palembang on August 31, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / ADEK BERRY

JAKARTA—Failing to handle the heat when the run came, Kim Mangrobang faded in the final 2.5 kilometers on Friday and settled for a seventh place finish in the women’s triathlon event of the 18th Asian Games won by Japan’s Yuko Takahashi in Palembang province.

Used to training in colder settings in Rio Maior, Portugal before coming over, Mangrobang had a difficult time dealing with 30-degree Celsius weather during the run, finishing with a time of two-hours, five-minutes and 20 seconds for the swim-bike-run race that wound up in front of the massive Jakabaring Sports Complex.

Still, it was an improvement from the ninth place finish she had in Incheon, South Korea in 2014, even as the second Philippine bet, Kim Kilgore, wound up in that spot, 1:37 behind Mangrobang for an impressive debut in the Games.

Mangrobang, who was running third after getting off her bike, refused to blame the heat, saying that it was manageable, though her last week in Portugal was weather there steadily in the low 20s. “It was hot, but it was manageable,” Mangrobang said.

Ani de Leon-Brown, the national coach, was satisfied with the performance of the Filipino duo but rued Mangrobang’s failure to finish higher because of the heat.

“If she (Mangrobang) had managed to stay with the pack (in the last 2.5 kilometers), she would have finished Top Five, at least,” Brown said. “(Humid conditions affected her) because she was coming over from Europe where the weather is cool).”

Meanwhile, Kilgore also put up a gallant fight, and was ecstatic of her performance.

“Just being here is already an awesome experience for me,” the charming half-American said. “To be able to play for our country and get a good finish is already beyond my expectations.”

China’s Zhong Menying was second at 2:01.06, with Macau’s Hoi Long winning the bronze with a time of 2:01.28.