Reunion of dominant PH champions will have to wait

Around this time last year, the Philippines was busy putting up the building blocks of its 2019 Southeast Asian Games domination in triathlon.

Out on the hilly course inside the former Subic Bay Naval Base, Filipino racers stamped their class on an international field.

What came to be known as the “Three Kims and One John” ruled the men’s and women’s categories of the Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) Championships.

John Leerams Chicano and Kim Remolino captured the gold and silver medals, respectively in the men’s category, a feat duplicated in the women’s side by Kim Mangrobang and Kim Kilgroe who churned out a 1-2 finish of their own.

That set off a chain of events that culminated in yet another golden showing in the SEA Games and confirmed the country’s status as a regional heavyweight in the sport.

Because in the same exact order, the Filipino triathletes overran the podium in the biennial meet held at the same course later in the year.

Unfortunately, there won’t be a reunion of victors this year. At least not yet, after the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) announced that it is moving the SuBIT 2020 from May 2-3 to Nov. 7-8.

“The uncertain and serious coronavirus situation compels TRAP to take this course of action,” the statement said.

Trap was actually heeding the call of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) to suspend all activities starting March 16 up until April 30.

As in other world sporting bodies, the COVID-19 pandemic also wrought havoc on the ITU calendar, including world rankings, Olympic qualification, Paratriathlon and Paralympics qualifications. INQ