Singaporean wins men’s triathlon

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Filipino Arland Macasieb struggled with cramps in the 10K run but bravely finished the race and settled for the bronze medal in the men’s triathlon event of the Southeast Asian Games at the Subic Freeport yesterday.

Singapore’s 18-year-old bet Cheng Jing Hean became the first gold medalist of the event held for the first time in the SEA Games with a time of one hour, 58 minutes, 41 seconds.

Silver medalist was Malaysian Loh Yeong Shang in 2:02:12.63 while Macasieb, aching with body cramps in the third phase of the 1.5 km swim, 40k bike, 10K run event, completed the race and still salvaged a bronze in 2:04:30.40.

The Singaporean broke away from the field right in the swim portion where he set a record of 0:18:33.9 as well as in the bike phase with a time of 1:02:02.40.

The 18-year Noel Salvador, the other RP bet, was fifth in 2:06:12.50, behind Gino Ernest Ng of Singapore (2:05:42.18). — Bebot Sison Jr.