RP duathletes off to Hong Kong

With some of the best duathletes in the world and in Asia expected to participate in the first Asian Duathlon Championship set Sunday in Hong Kong, the Philippine team will be satisfied with a place in the top 10.

"This is the first time in five years that the country is going to participate in a duathlon event outside the country so I guess a place in the top 10 is impressive," said RP team coach Jay Sales in yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Holiday Inn Manila.

Leading the charge of the five-man RP squad is Mark Candelaria, the country’s current men’s No. 1 following his first place finish in the National Triathlon Trials here in January.

The 29-year-old Candelaria, who placed 12th out of a strong field in an international triathlon event held in Macau last year, will be backstopped by Fil-Am Arlan Macasieb, former No. 3 in an age group duathlon ranking in the United States, and Leian Cruz, currently the country’s junior triathlon record holder.

Current RP No. 1 duathlete Kaye Lopez and National Triathlon Trials second placer Popo Nagtalon, on the other hand, are expected to carry the fight for the Philippines on the distaff side.

RP’s last participation in an international duathlon event was in the 1996 Singapore International Duathlon Championship where Danilo Daniela and Garce Peji finished first and third, respectively.

Triathlon and duathlon were introduced by the Americans in the early 1990s with the former already being played in the Olympics.

While Triathlon, comprising of races in swimming, biking and running, is restricted only during non-winter seasons, duathlon can be played even in winter or cold times since it only involves running and biking.

Here, the sport is starting to gain popularity as an alternative sport for the adventurous types with the help of Tom Carrasco, president of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines and the country’s and Asia’s representative to the International Triathlon Union. — Joey Villar