Rick Reyes (right), head coach of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) and Boying Rodriguez (2nd from left), Vice president of TRAP, turn over some training equipment to Cebuano triathlon national team member Kim Remolino. At left is Kim’s father Andoy.
(CDN PHOTO/ LITO TECSON)
The rising prospects of triathlon will converge in Cebu for the second leg of the 2017 National Age Group Triathlon (NAGT) Series in Camotes Island this Sunday.
In a press conference held yesterday at the Ila Puti Restaurant where Triathlon Association of the Philippines (Trap) national coach Rick Reyes and TRAP Vice President Oscar “Boying” Rodriguez Jr. attended, they revealed that the Visayas Leg of NAGT is an important race for the Philippine team junior triathletes considering it is part of the qualifying races for 2018’s Youth Olympic Games (YOG) to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. “We are very sensitive to the comments that most of the sprint races are in Luzon. So we bring this leg to Visayas. We’re happy that Boying (Oscar Rodriguez) agreed to host this race,” said Rick Reyes during the press conference yesterday.
The race on Sunday is also aiming to promote the pristine beaches and unspoiled terrains of Camotes Island.
Reyes and Rodriguez were joined by the junior triathletes and members of the junior national team from Cebu, Davao and Dipolog, whom he called the prospects to represent the country in YOG.
Cebuana rising triathlete Karen Andrea Manayon who’s recently named as part of the national pool was one of the kids. “Karen (Manayon) is very consistent and been winning in the previous races. She’s probably one of the female that can represent us in the 2018 YOG if she maintains her performance,” said Rick Reyes.
Aside from Manayon, fellow Cebuanos Andrew Kim Remolino who is a member of the Philippine junior triathlon team along with Renz Corbin joined the press conference. Also, Mo Leuenberger of Davao City and Denver Dayonon of Davao City were present in yesterday’s presser.
Sunday’s race is part of NAGT’s 10-leg series scheduled this year. “We had three races in 2016, six races this year and a final race in 2018. The participants will get points and will be evaluated on their performances, we will make a short list. We started this early so we can prepare the kids early before the YOG,” said Reyes, who added that they will probably select six kids—three boys and three girls.
Manayon for her part said that she will rely on her consistent training to win in her category. Manayon who topped the 13-14 years old of the recent Alaska Ironkids in Subic Bay, Olonggapo will compete in the mini-sprint distance for Sunday’s race.
Rodriguez Jr. said that more than a hundred participants have listed for the event, including the formidable junior triathletes from Luzon. He said that the participants can still register onsite. “For the grassroots level we have come up with the aquathlon event. This will be for the kids who don’t have a bike. There will be 16 grassroots kids from Talisay City and 18 from Danao City,” said Rodriguez.
Aside from the NAGT race and the aquathlon side event, there will also be a cross-country mountain bike challenge to be held on Saturday in Camotes Island.