Ace triathletes meet world best

Local triathletes will get a rare chance to compete against some of the world’s best as the International Triathlon Union (ITU) Long Distance Triathlon unfolds today inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Former national triathlon champion Abet Alon-Alon, RP team coach Peter Gonzales, duathlon mentor Mark Candelaria, Fred Uytengsu, expats Hiroshi Takei and Anthony Welsh, Ironman triathlon champion Alvin Alindogan and Marc Houle lead the local challenge.

They’ll be up against Czech Peter Vabrousek, currently the world’s highest-ranked long distance triathlete, American Tim Marr, ranked seventh by the ITU, Japanese Hirato Taro and Singaporean Eugene Lee.

The Hong Kong Triathlon Association also confirmed it would field in a four-man, all-male entry to toughen up the field in this event backed by Speedo, Power Bar, David’s Salon and Spa, Fitness First, Asian Centre for Insulation Phil., Herbalife and Legenda Hotel and hosted by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Association.

"We are honored to be given a chance by the ITU to host a long distance triathlon event for the first time," said Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) president Tom Carrasco, who said a total cash purse worth P200,000 is at stake.

Leading the RP charge on the distaff side are veteran adventure racer Popo Nagtalon-Remigio, sportscaster Tricia Chiongbian and Monica Torres, who are all out to give ITU No. 8 Ruthy Vesler of the United States a run for her money.

Long distance racers will go through three kilometers of swimming, 80 kilometers of biking and 20 kilometers of running, or double the ordinary race of 1.5K of swimming, 40K of biking and 10K of running.

Aside from the main event, other races tap are events in various age-group levels, an inter-club race, a team relay and a sprint triathlon for juniors and adults.