Mataragnon shrugs off foot injury to finish 3rd in MetaSprint Series

Aaliyah Ricci Mataragnon joins first placer Zoe Bowden (middle) and Louise Middleditch on the podium in the awarding ceremony of the MetaSprint Series in Singapore. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

THOUGH hobbled by a foot injury, 16-year-old top Cebuana triathlete Aaliyah Ricci Mataragnon still came up with a podium finish after finishing third in yesterday’s MetaSprint Series in Singapore.

Mataragnon reached the finish line one hour, 20 minutes and 35 seconds.

Zoe Bowden topped the race with 1:14.43 and was followed by British Lousie Middleditch, who timed 1:15.25.

Mataragnon slowed down in the run portion, recording 28:06 after she felt pain in the right foot due to plantar fasciitis, which she sustained while training in Cebu.

Mataragnon also nursed fever when she placed second in the same race last year.

“We are still very proud of her because we did not expect her to finish at the top three spots because of her injury, but she showed heart and she defied a painful injury just to finish strong in the race,” said Mataragnon’s father Ritche.

Mataragnon banked on a strong showing in the bike portion which she finished in 33:54 compared to Bowden’s 34:35 and Middleditch’s 34:11. She finished the swim portion with a time of 14:51 to Middleditch’s 15:13 and Bowden’s 12:31.

It was the first time that Mataragnon joined the race’s sprint distance after joining the younger age groups for the past couple of years.

Long distance triathlon races are not new to Mataragnon, who won this year’s women’s elite class of the 2nd Cebu City Triathlon. She also topped the women’s elite category of the Tri Team Series Championships last February in Dalaguete town, southern Cebu.

Ritche said Aaliyah will rest for a while to recover from her injury before competing again.