Foreign bets bear heat, top race

SUBIC BAY , Philippines   â€“ Even the very best had something to say about the prickling heat that marked yesterday’s Subic Bay International Triathlon.

Aleksandr Latin of Estonia said he almost felt like giving up on his bid for the men’s elite title after he started to feel the heat during the morning race.

“The race course was easy but it was very hot,” said the 27-year-old Latin, the number one triathlete back home and racing his first triathlon on Philippine soil.

But he knew exactly what to do.

“You needed to hydrate a lot by drinking and use a sponge to cool you down,” he said before the awarding ceremony in front of the Harbor Point Mall.

Water stations were strategically located along the route (1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run) and at the finish, participants were allowed to cool down on inflatable pools.

Cold water and energy drinks were handed to those that crossed the finish.

“I felt the pace was going slow because of the heat. Before coming here I felt I can win the race but when I felt the heat I just thought of finishing in the top five,” said Latin.

He won the race in one hour, 50 minutes, 16 seconds, and was followed by Japan’s Kohei Shimomura (1:50:29), Austria’s Simon Agoston (1:50:39), Korea’s Min Ho Heo (1:51:03) and Hong Kong’s Ivan Lo Ching Hin (1:51:25).

Jonard Saim, the lone Filipino entry in the men’s elite class, finished 14th in 1:59:39 but wore a big smile at the finish because he said it was his first sub-two (hour) effort.

Chika Sato of Japan clinched the elite title in the women’s side with a time of 2:02:35, towing Long Hoi of Macau (2:03:02), Hilda Choi Yan Yin of Hong Kong (2:07:37), Ayami Kawaguchi of Japan (2:10:02) and Joyce Cheung Ting Yan also of Hong Kong (2:11:51).

Like the men’s champion, the Japanese lady complained of the heat.

“It was a very easy course. I like the bike course. But it was very hot,” said Sato, adding that training in the summer and under the sun back home served her well yesterday.

The 28-year-old Sato is ranked No. 11 in Japan but dreams of making it to the 2016 Rio Olympics. She is a swimming instructor back home, and it’s also her first time in the Philippines.

There was no Filipina entry in the elite division although Marion Kim Mangrobang drew loud cheers at the finish for topping the ladies’ under-23 division with a time of 2:19:08.

The pretty 22-year-old home study student said the victory should push her to work harder as she bids to represent the country in the Incheon Asian Games this year.

“Most probably I’ll be competing in the Asian Games,” said Mangrobang, who was joined by her boyfriend, young professional golfer John Kier Abdon.

Mangroban came out second in the swim leg and second after the bike leg. It was in the run stage that she took control of the race.

“I took the lead and didn’t bother to look back,” said Mangrobang, who was followed to the finish by two Chinese Taipei bets in Wei Chen Chien (2:20:54) and Yi-Hui Liu (2:21:57).

She dedicated her victory to her 20-year-old brother who passed away last October.

“It’s always for him,” she said.

In the men’s under-23 division, Pei Yen Hsu of Chinese Taipei prevailed in 2:00:21 while local boys Nikko Huelgas and John Chicano came in second and third in 2:00:38 and 2:01:37.