Langit bags gold in Asian aquathlon

MANILA, Philippines - Lea Coline Langit won the gold medal in the Asian Aquathlon (1,500m swim, 5K run) while Robeno Javier took the bronze in the Asian duathlon (10K run, 40K bike, 5K run) in the 2011 Mekong River Multi-Sports Festival in Chiangrai, Thailand Friday, two days after an intensity 7 quake rocked the province.

The gold-bronze medal finish surpassed the two bronzes delivered by duathletes August Benedicto and Monica Torres in the 2010 edition.

It was also Langit’s second Asian Aquathlon title after bagging the crown in 2009 in Palembang, Indonesia where she also claimed the bronze medal in triathlon.

The feat came two days after a an intensity 7 quake jolted the province.

“Around 9 p.m., we experienced a 7.0 earthquake and it shook us all up a little including the stuff in our rooms. There were aftershocks all night so most people either slept out in the street or in the massage room on the first floor. An easier getaway than the fourth,” said coach Dan Brown who led the six athletes and three officials sent by Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) and financed by the Philippine Sports Commission. (PSC).

Despite the lack of sleep, Langit was still in her best form come race day as she anchored her campaign on her strength in the swim to submit the Asian best time at 36 minutes and 19 seconds.

Langit came out of the water second behind world’s 25th ranked triathlete Rakda Vodickova of Czech Republic at 13 minutes and 59 seconds, enjoying a 1:13 second advantage over challenger Hoi Long of Macau.

Meanwhile, Robeno kept in stride with Japanese duathletes Fukaura Yuya and Kurihara Masaaki for a bronze medal finish in one hour, 59 minute, 34 seconds.

Robeno also claimed the bronze medal in the Subic Asian Duahtlon Open held last November.

Yuya, who won the gold medal in the Subic race, submitted 1:55:30 time while Masaaki, who topped the male U-23 in the race last November, took the silver with 1:56:03._

August Benedicto (2:01:36), Neil Catiil (2:02:05) and Carlo Pedregosa (2:05) settled for fourth, sixth and eighth spot respectively while Jeff Valdez wound up at eleventh place with 2:12:33._

The event has attracted participants from Japan, Philippines, Iran, Malaysia, Thailand, Chinese Taipie, Hong Kong, Uzbekistan, Macau, Syria, Czech Republic, Germany and USA.