Record number vies in triathlon

MANILA, Philippines - A record number of triathletes and a new category highlight this Sunday’s SPEEDO National Age Group Triathlon (NAGT) Series at the Narra Park, Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City.

The event serves as the fifth leg of the six-stage series with a total of 311 triathletes seeing action in the event organized by Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP).

The total number of participants is a 48 percent improvement from last year’s 210 competitors, underscoring the sport’s growing popularity in the country.

“The interest to compete this year is high that we have decided to close our registration two weeks before the actual race to ensure the quality of the competition and at the same time ensure the safety of the competitors,” said TRAP president Tom Carrasco Jr.

Highlighting the event is the staging of the Super Mini-Sprint (SMS) category which will be disputed in 600m swim, 16.8-kilometer bike and 3.2-kilometer run.

The Super Mini-Sprint allows triathletes who have been expose in mini sprint but are not yet prepared to compete in the sprint distance to gauge their level of competitiveness in long distance. 

“NAGT is our mass-base program with the objective of providing individuals the chance to compete in triathlon and at the same time to discover potential talents for future national team. The SMS will help complete the growth of a triathlete,” said Carrasco.

The event is presented by Speedo and supported by the Ayala Alabang Village Association (AAVA), Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Other backers are Sunkist, Citibank, Fitness First, David’s Salon, Vitwater and Asian Centre for Insulation, Philippines.

A total of 41 participants will vie in the SMS while 47 triathletes are taking part in the Mini-Sprint set at 300m swim, 11.6K bike and 2.5K run. The rest of the field will see action in the Sprint category to be disputed at 900m swim, 30K bike and 6.7K run.

Medals will be given to the top three finishers in the different male and female age groups in the sprint race, the top 5 adults, male and female in super mini-sprint and top 3 youth (13-15), male and female and top 5 Adults, male and female in the mini-sprint.

Check-in of all participants is set at 5:30 a.m. for the body marking with the race to officially start at 6 a.m.

First wave will be for the mini-sprint followed by the super mini-sprint and the sprint. The presentation of medals will be held at 10 a.m.