SEA Games: Philippines settles for bronze in duathlon relay

Filipino triathlete Emmanuel Comendador grimaces in pain as medical personnel and his teammates Monica Torres (3nd from right), Efrraim Inigo (2nd from right) and Mary Pauline Fornea (behind Inigo) rush to his care at the finish line of the duathlon mixed Relay competition of the 30th SEA Games. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Women’s duathlon champion Monica Torres missed the opportunity of a rare golden double after the Philippine duathlon relay team settled for the bronze medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Teaming up with Doy Commendador, Efraim Inigo and Pawee Fornea, Torres and her teammates clocked one hour, 31 minutes and 35 seconds, almost three minutes slower than gold-winner Thailand.

The Thai quartet of Pareeya Sonsem, Nattawut Srinate, Siriwan Kuncharin and Arthit Soda completed the two-kilometer run, 6.6km bike and 1km run in one hour 28 minutes and 48 seconds.

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“People in our country told us that we cannot go home without the gold medal. It was a strong motivation for these athletes,’’ said Vijitr Sitinawin, president of the Thailand Triathlon Federation.

Placing second was Singapore (1:30:16) led by multisport prodigy Emma Da Middleditch. Joining her in the silver-medal podium were Ahmad Arif Ibrahim, Herlene Natasha Yu and Nicholas Rachmadi.

Filipino duathletes wound up with one gold courtesy of Torres, the silver medal of Joey Delos Reyes in the men’s individual race and one bronze medal here in the relay.