Cebuano triathletes join Japan meet

CEBU’s top junior elites are going to slug it out with Asia’s top-tier junior triathletes as they suit up for the country in the 2016 Hatsukaichi ASTC Asia Triathlon Championship in Hiroshima, Japan today.

Cebuanos Andrew Kim Remolino and siblings Justin and Yuan Chiongbian are among the bets of the national pool in the junior elite class. Joining the Cebuanos in the five-man team are Brent Valelo and Julius Constantino.

The five junior elites of the country will be competing against triathletes from Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore, Japan and Indonesia among others.

The junior elite competition will cover a 750-meter swim, 20K bike and 5K run and will fire off at 7:30 a.m.

The Cebuanos are expected to provide power for the country with national team members Yuan and Justin; and developmental member Remolino, who finished at sixth place overall in the 2016 Subic Bay ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup in Subic Freeport Zone early this month.

Yuan and Justin will be banking on their experience in international races. However, for Remolino this will be his first race abroad.

“The preparation for Kim on the race went well; he can really compete in the Filipino junior elite. But I think against the Asian triathletes it would be tough because he’s still new in the sport. Maybe another one year and his level will be at par with the other Asian competitors,” said Remolino’s father, Roland.

Remolino, 16, a former swimmer, has been in triathlon in just one year and three months.

“I think the toughest competitor on the race will be the triathletes from Hong Kong,” Roland said.

The Hong Kong triathletes dominated the ASCT Triathlon Asian Cup as they swept the top five honors last April 16.

The Philippine delegates for junior elite are guided by coaches George Vilog and Anthony Lozada.

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