Huelgas, Mangrobang rule triathlon

MANILA, Philippines — Nikko Huelgas and Marion Kim Mangrobang blazed to expected triathlon victories yesterday even as Baguio’s surprising taekwondo jins grabbed seven gold medals and sustained their strong performance in combat sports of the PSC-POC Philippine National Games.

Huelgas, 22, finished strong to beat Cagayan de Oro’s Banjo Norte in the men’s 20-and-over division with a time of one hour, 20 minutes and 25 seconds over the shortened 900-meter swim, 27.1-kilometer bike and 5.2-km run course.

The 22-year-old Norte completed the race in 1:21:26 for the silver medal and Deo Timbol placed third in 1:27:32 in the event held at Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City.

A top aspirant for the Asian Games in South Korea in September, Mangrobang ruled the women’s race in 1:36:54. Noemi Andrea Galeos settled for the silver (1:49:27) and Bic Ferreria got the bronze (1:50:49).

After collecting 23 golds in judo, the Baguio jins responded this time through featherweight Colleen Heria, lightweight Leslie Marie Agyamoc, bantam Keyya David and welter Kaye Shannelle Romnar in the junior women’s advance division while heavyweight Brighty Rio Salazar, bantam Monsour Carlo Salazar and feather Tristan Dale Cayago won their final matches in the men’s side.

Other winners were Aaron James Galita (light), Gian Francis Rubio (welter), Gabrielle Hernandez (middle), Francesca Agojo (light heavy), Arellano’s Eric Miguel Padilla, San Beda’s Abram Lance Cuvinar (middle), Keybert Lee Lumbania (heavy) and flyweight Jerome de Guzman of DPS.

Mangrobang, already the winner of the 2014 K-Swiss ITU Subic Bay International Triathlon last month, paced herself at the start before surging ahead in the bike and run legs.

“I gave it all in the bike and run,” said Mangrobang, the country’s No. 1 woman triathlete. “I’m determined to be in the Asian Games.”

Huelgas, hands-down the best male triathlete in the country, was hounded by Norte in the swim and bike legs before speeding ahead in the final stretch of the run course that ended in front of the De La Salle-Zobel campus.

“He’s (Norte) strong but I was able to get the breaks in the run,” said Huelgas, who is also bidding for a spot in the Asian Games.

Edward Jared Macalalad won the triathlon gold in the male 16-19 category while duathletes James Allado (16-19), Robeno Javier (20 and above) and Nancy Papaya (women’s 20 and above) also emerged victorious.