Japanese sweep ITU-Subic duathlon

SUBIC, Philippines – Japan stamped its class in the International Triathlon Union (ITU)-Subic Bay Duathlon as it swept both the men’s and women’s divisions in the elite and elite-Under 23 categories yesterday here.

Takashi Nakata foiled the challenge of local bets Robeno Javier and Neil Catiil as he pulled away in the last stretch of the closing 5K leg to top the men’s side.

The 31-year-old computer engineer from Tokyo clocked 1:58.24 while Javier finished second in 1:58.28 and Catiil turned in a 1:59.04 clocking in the 10K run, 40K bike and 5K run race sponsored by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Gatorade, Sunkist, Vitwater, David Salon, and the Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines (ACIP).

“I really expected to win this race, my time was pretty good,” said Nakata who posted his very first major duathlon victory.

Meanwhile, last year’s Asian Duathlon champion Airi Sawada completed the Japanese romp as she led from start to finish to capture the elite women’s crown. She clocked a cumulative time of 2:17.18 with Davao City native Mirasol Abad finishing a far second in 2:20.42.

“I liked the hilly course but I don’t like flat roads,” said Sawada, who added she could’ve done better in the bike side of the event sanctioned by the Asian Triathlon Confederation (ASTC).

In the elite-Under 23 event, Masaaki Kurihara turned back local bet John Chicano for the championship with a 2:03.46 clocking. Chicano timed 2:05.16 while Chinese-Taipei duathlete Maoyung Yang came in third in 2:07.05.

Ami Haishima completed Japan’s sweep by winning the elite-Under 23 women’s title in 2:21:11. National junior champion Kim Mangrobang came in second in 2:34:54.