Asia's emerging triathletes seen to rise in Subic U-23

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will be the site of emerging triathletes in Asia as the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) hosts the Asian Junior and Under-23 Championships May 1-2 at Subic Bay.

The event will be the 18th year of the Subic Bay International Triathlon (SUBIT) but unlike the past years, TRAP will be putting emphasis on young triathletes who are expected to make their mark in this endurance sport in the coming years.

“We have decided to host the Junior and Under-23 Championships this year because there are a number of events for the elite for 2010. This is an important project since from these ranks will rise future superstars in this region in triathlon,” said TRAP president Tom Carrasco Jr.

The event is co-presented by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and sanctioned by the Asian Triathlon Confederation (ASTC). Speedo, David’s Salon, Globe Telecom, Sunkist, Vitwater, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Gatorade, Fitness First and Rudy Project are the major sponsors.

ASTC member countries China, Japan, Korea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Uzbekhistan, Mongolia, Syria, India and Singapore are to send their representatives and will compete with the country’s best for honors.

The Olympic distance at 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run will be held for the Elites and U-23 while the sprint distance at 750m swim, 20Kbike and 5K run will be contested in the junior class.

Age group competitions, adult sprint, mini sprints for 13-15 year olds and beginning triathletes and club team championships will also be held as side events in the two-day race.

The race will start at the Dungaree Beach and will ended at the Waterfront with female elite/under-23 as well as female age groupers, junior sprint, adult sprint, mini-sprint and female inter-club relay competitions to be held May 1 while the elite/US-23, male age groupers and inter-club team championships will be disputed the following day.

Since the race is sanctioned by the ASTC, tapped as race referee is Mark Sungkar of Indonesia with Daniel Sng from Singapore as the technical delegate to supervise the race.

To help prepare the local triathletes, TRAP will also be staging three local events in the next two months.

The second leg of the National Age Group Triathlon Championship will be held March 14 in Davao with the Triathlon Association of Davao (TRAD) organizing the race. The third leg will be disputed in Cebu April 25 at the Plantation Bay.

Triathletes aged 6 to 15 will display their class in the Super Tri-Kids (STK) multisports festival April 11 at Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City. Included in the program is a mini sprint event for beginning adult triathletes.

Further inquiries on these events can be made at the TRAP office located at RM 101 Bldg B, Philsports Complex in Pasig City. Entry forms and race info are available on www.triathlon.org.ph. Other registration centers are Speedo Concept Stores at the Alabang Town Center, MOA, Podium, Megamall, Glorietta and Boni High Street and BIKING in the Global City.