Mangrobang, Casares banner PH challenge

Filipino triathlete Kim Mangrobang–INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

For years the undisputed triathlon queen in Southeast Asia, Kim Mangrobang will try to flaunt the same mastery in duathlon when she spearheads a Philippine contingent seeing action in the National Duathlon Championships at New Clark City in Tarlac province.

The triathlon champion in the Vietnam Southeast Asian (SEA) Games earlier this year, Mangrobang will be trying to qualify for duathlon in the 32nd edition of the Games slated next year in Cambodia through this tournament.

A strong foreign participation coming from Australia, Brazil, France, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and the United States will be the biggest hurdles of the Filipinos in these races that fire off on Dec. 4.

Reigning SEA Games triathlon champion Fernando Jose Casares and 2019 SEA Games winner John Leerams Chicano banner the Philippine side in the men’s side of the five-kilometer run, 20-km bike and 2.5-km run contest along with Andrew Kim Remolino.

It will be doubly challenging for the Filipinos in the Phnom Pehn SEA Games on May 5 to 17 next year since “aquathlon” will be added to the triathlon and duathlon programs. There will be three events—men, women and team—in the three disciplines in Cambodia.

“The top Filipino finishers will be on the short list for the SEA Games in Cambodia, but we will also consider the other duathlon events results in 2022,’’ said Triathlon Association of the Philippines president Tom Carrasco. INQ