Mangrobang wins sprint duathlon title in Mekong

MANILA, Philippines - Kim Mangrobang, the country’s top junior female triathlete, lived up to her billing as she beat Japanese entry Miura Ayaka in the sprint duathlon junior elite event of the Mekong Duathlon last weekend in Vietnam.

Mangrobang, who has been in the triathlon training camp in Subic since last year, clocked 1:15 to Ayaka’s 1:30 in the event which is part of the World Duathlon Series of the International Triathlon Union.

Monica Torres, the top local female elite duathlete who has been performing well in her overseas stints, finished third behind Japanese Airi Sawada, who clocked 2:20, and another Japanese bet Ruriko Yajima, 2:27.20. Torres negotiated the full distance in 2:31.

In the male elite U-23, two Filipino duathletes also finished in the top 5. Carlo Pedregosa was third in 2:17 and Neil Catiil fifth in 2:25. Champion was Croatian Matez Sporav (2:01), beating Syrian Yousef Al Shebile (2:05).

“ Our efforts in providing year round training and regular international exposure to our young athletes are paying off and we are thankful that the PSC, Globe, and David’s Salon have been helping us by supporting our Subic training camp, “ said Triathlon Association of the Philippines ( TRAP ) president Tom Carrasco Jr.