Speedo age group triathlon draws banner field

MANILA, Philippines –  The 2011 Speedo National Age Group Triathlon Series kicks off Sunday with a big field seeing action in various divisions at the Dungaree Beach at Subic Bay Freeport.

This marks the second straight time that the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is joining hands with the organizing Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) for the staging of the inaugural leg of the NAGT which has attracted 237 triathletes.

“We’re happy and at the same time surprise to see a big number of triathletes right in our first event for the year. We even had to order additional finishers shirt to accommodate all the participants,” said TRAP president Tom Carrasco Jr.

The NAGT is TRAP’s leading talent identification program with Speedo Swimming Apparel, David’s Salon, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Gatorade, CITIBANK and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) as the event’s chief backers.

Events on tap are different age groups in mini-sprint and standard distance.

Kids’ age 6 to 12 years old will be competing in the Super Tri-Kids Aquathlon.

Like in the past, the top 10 in the standard distance (1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run) will earn points base on their order of finishes per leg with the overall leader after six legs to gain possible slot in the national pool.

This year, however, TRAP will also put focus on triathletes in the mini-sprint distance (350m swim,16K bike, 3.3K run) for 13 to 15 age group since from the ranks will come the country’s possible representative to the second Asian Youth Games set in Nanjing China in 2013 where triathlon will make its debut.

Other NAGT legs will be held in Davao (March 13), Plantation Bay, Cebu (April 3), Cagayan De Oro (Aug. 6), Ayala Alabang (Oct. 16), and Los Banos, Laguna (Dec. 10).

Body markings starts at 5 a.m. with final race briefing slated at 5:50 a.m.

First wave will be flagged off at 6:10 a.m. starting with the female and male mini-sprint followed by competitors in the women and men standard distance. Last to see action are young participants in the STK-Aquathlon.

Awarding of medals to the top three finishers in the different age groups and categories will be at 10 a.m.