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Sunday, April 04, 2004
Japanese rule Subic triathlon
By JADE S. VIOLETA
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
JAPANESE triathletes flaunted their readiness for big competitions after snaring the championship titles in the Premier divisions yesterday in the opening day of the 2004 Speedo-Asian Triathlon Championships at the Subic Freeport.
Philippine bet Sandra Araullo managed only the seventh place in the event organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines and backed by Speedo, Reliv Philippines, Monoc Bike Frames, Gatorade, New Balance, PowerBar, SBMA, Philippine Sports Commission and the POC Sports For All Commission.
Yuichi Hosada and Eri Nakagawa raised the Japanese banner high in the opening salvo of the two-day grind after topping the 23-Under Men and Women’s divisions, respectively, in the competition serving as a qualifier for the Athens Olympics.
The 19-year-old Tokushima, Japan-native Hosada stamped his class in the Male Under-23 division easily disposing his rivals including compatriot Kenji Umatate as he finished the race in one hour, 56 minutes and 57 seconds.
The time of Hosada, who dreams of winning the gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was five minutes faster than Umatate’s 2:01.13 in the event sponsored by Subic Bay Management Authority, Smart Communication, Speedo, Solar Sports, PSC and POC.
Sho Higasino, another Japanese bet, completed Japan’s 1-2-3 finish in the 23-Under Men’s race.
“I have high expectations because I prepared so hard for this event. This is my first time here and I have difficulties adjusting to the heat. Good thing I was able to pull away,” said Hosada, who will next compete in the World Cup in Ishigaki, Japan, after finishing the 400-meter swim, 15-kilometer bike and four-kilometer run Sprint Distance event.
Nakagawa, a pretty part-time waitress of a sushi bar in Japan, for her part, glittered in the distaff side after clocking of 2:11.16, a significant improvement compared to her championship-snaring campaign in Malaysia two years ago and her second-place finish in Subic in 2002.
The 22-year-old Ichiba-native Nakagawa broke free from the main pack in the bike event and went
trouble-free in the running phase.
Araullo, for her part, set her own personal best after logging in at 2:27.58 gaining some measure of respect from her Southeast Asian rival.
“Our target was to finish at 2:35,” explained Araullo, who suffered a stomach cramp in the second lap of the running stage.
Meanwhile, Trap will pin its hopes for a brighter showing from junior triathletes today when the rest of the categories take center stage.
“In the Juniors, a top-five finish on the Girls’ side is a real possibility with our hopes on Josephine Pilapil and Lea Langit, both strong swimmers,” said Trap president Tom Carrasco earlier.
The national triathlon team members who will compete in the Olympic Distance, on the other hand, are 2003 Asian aquathlon champion Josephina Pilapil, Lea Legel, Melissa Gyle Lucas, Ani Karina De Leon, Alessandra Araullo and Mylene Jarina in the women’s team.
The Men’s team, on the other hand is composed of George Vilog, Cebuanos Eldy Banluta, Albert Biagan and Noel Salvador.
(April 4, 2004 issue)
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