THE Parklane Para Tri Team is looking to develop young athletes who are physically challenged and help them become competitive in triathlon.
“As part of our corporate social responsibility we involved the PWD as part of the beneficiary of the team. Our focus now is toward helping the physically challenged individuals to be competitive in the sport,” said team manager Bobby Martinez in a press conference yesterday at the Cebu Parklane International Hotel.
“The Para Tri Team was launched September of last year and right now we have four para-athletes. We’re looking to develop young guys who can be included in the team,” he added.
The members of the Para Tri Team are Arnold Balais, Rex Gonzales, Alex Nino Silverio and Renato Rodriguez.
“(The long-term plan) is to advocate first that there’s a PWD tri team in Cebu and then create a broader base of athletes. To develop younger ones is the initial plan,” said Martinez.
The Parklane Para Relay team recently outlasted other teams and finished 7th overall out of 76 entries in the regular all-male relay category. The team was also hailed champion in the physically-challenged category. The race covered a 1.9-kilometer swim, 90K bike and 21K run.
Martinez said that after the performance of swimmer Balais, biker Gonzales and runner Silverio, they have received an invitation from the Paratri Association of the Philippines.
“We have plan also for (Renato) Rodriguez to train him and be the first individual PWD triathlete to do all three disciplines—swim, bike and run-- in a competition,” he said.
The Parklane Para Tri- Team will be competing in the 4040 distance of the San Remigio Triathlon on Nov. 12. The team will also follow the Paratri Association of the Philippines calendar of events for next year.