SEAG slots at stake in Clark nat’l triathlon

Slots for the RP team seeing action in the Bangkok Southeast Asian Games late this year will be staked when the 2007 National Triathlon Championship unfolds today at the Clearwater and Country Club inside the Clark Special Economic Zone in Clarkfield, Pampanga.

Tom Carrasco, president of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP), said the event would be one of the tournaments they would use as basis in the selection of national team members bound for the biennial 11-nation meet, with the other two being the Subic Bay International in May and the Asian Championship in Korea in June.

"The National Championship accounts for 20-percent in our selection process – the other 80-percent will come from the Subic International and the Asian Championship in Korea," said Carrasco.

Over 150 young and old triathlon athletes and enthusiasts are participating in the one-day tilt, sponsored by SPEEDO, David’s Salon, Asian Centre for Insulation, Philippine Sports Commission and Gatorade, including a small group of age groupers from Asian powerhouse Hong Kong.

It marked the first time that Hong Kong, which will be represented by Chak Fung Lau, Ching Ho Terence Lai, Simpson Kim Man Wong, Sam Brian Mitchelmore, Arthur Tak Hei Cheung and Long Fung Lau, is seeing action in the annual event.

Carrasco said the event has drawn participants nationwide.