Chinese, Japanese shine in K-Swiss Subic triathlon

MANILA, Philippines - China’s Bai Faquan banked on his strong  finishing kick even as Japan’s Eri Kawashima relied on her blazing start as the two Asian triathletes ruled yesterday’s K-Swiss ITU Subic Bay International Triathlon presented by Century Tuna at the Subic Bay Freeport.

Nikko Huelgas, the country’s top male triathlete, also made the country proud by bagging the gold medal in the Under-23 Elite in this two-day race organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines in cooperation with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and supported by K-Swiss, Century Tuna, Speedo, David’s Salon, Travelers Hotel, Asian Centre For Insulation Philippines, Gatorade and Standard Insurance.

The 20-year-old Huelgas struggled in the swim phase but more than made up for it in the bike and run to win the U-23 over teammate John Lee Chicano and Malaysian Shimri Lim.

“I’m not happy with my performance because I had many mistakes. But this is a learning experience for me and I will correct the mistakes I made to be a better triathlete,” said Huelgas who was timed at 2:01:41 in the 1.5k swim, 40k bike and 10k run event that also drew the support of Gatorade, Harbor Point Ayala Malls, SM City Olongapo, Fitness First and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Chicano, fresh from a two-month training in Australia, settled for 2:04:05 time while Lim clocked at 2:08:32.

The day, however, belonged to the 26-year old Faquan who picked up the pace in the third loop of the four-and-a-half loop run leg to finally leave behind Ireland’s Benjamin Shaw for his second victory in two weeks. He negotiated the race in 1:50:12 and was 24 seconds ahead of Shaw (1:50:36).

“I was only expecting a top three finish because I’m still tired after competing and winning the Fuzhou ITU Asian Cup last week. Today was very hot but I had the opportunity to win and took it,” said Faquan through an interpreter.

Faquan arrived in the second transition along with seven other triathletes that also included Shane Barrie of Australia and early favorites Mehdi Essadiq of Morocco and Christopher Felgate of Zimbabwe.

But Shaw managed to run side by side with Faquan after only the first two loops while Barrie who came out of the Dungaree Beach water first, was hampered by the 15 seconds penalty meted on him for just leaving his helmet on the ground in T2.

Barrie settled for third (1:52:09) while Essadiq (1:52:52) and Felgate (1:53:26) completed the top five finishers in the male division.

“I took the penalty in the third loop, which was a mistake, because I just lost them. Still this is a good race for me and I’m happy to have a podium finish especially since this is only my third race in the last two years because of injuries,” said Barrie.

Kawashima meanwhile build a comfortable lead after the swim leg and padded her advantage to more than five minutes after the bike to turn the run leg as her victory run.

“I was worried that my right leg injury because of hard training might affect my running. My plan was to do well in the swim and bike and I was able to have a comfortable lead that helped me win this race,” a jubilant Kawashima using an interpreter.

The Japanese triathlete submitted a time of 2:06:55 and won by a minute and 22 seconds over 19-year old Grace Musgrove on Australia (2:08:17).

“She took off in the swim and flew in the bike. I managed to cut her lead in the run but she was far ahead of me. Maybe if the race had another loop, I would have won it. But I’m satisfied with how I did since its just six months  since I started competing in triathlon and this is my sixth race and my best finish,” said Musgrove who is a medical student back home.

China’s Wang Yi took the bronze medal (2:10:48) while Macau’s Hoi Long (2:10:53) and Zhang Yi (2:11:19) also from China rounded out the top five finishers in the distaff side.

The top five finishers in both categories received medals and cash prizes awarded by Asian Triathlon Confederation (ASTC) secregary general Datuk Balwant Singh Kler.

Hong Kong bets also made their presence felt by sweeping the junior elite titles ran at the spring distance (750m swim, 20k bike and 5k run) with Mitchell More Sam a(1:04:08) and Long Ching Chan (1:12:24) bagging the gold medals.

Filipino bet Sixto Louie Lalanto (36:03) and Zoe Bowden of Malaysia (40:24) ruled the 13-15 mini-sprint category to complete the day’s results.

Action ends today with 500 triahtletes seeking titles in the different age group categories.