Monday, April 10, 2006
RP's Mendoza strikes again, seizes Asian Duathlon title
First posted 04:01am (Mla time) April 10, 2006
By Jasmine W. Payo
Inquirer
Editor's Note: Published on page A29 of the Apr. 10, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
CLARK FIELD, Pampanga -- Filipino Ryan Mendoza, exploiting his edge as a former cyclist, captured a second major regional title by ruling the Asian Duathlon Championship yesterday at the Clark Expo grounds here.
Fresh from a successful campaign in Thailand, Mendoza dominated the cycling phase of the 10K run-40K bike-5K run event to finish with a time of one hour 55 minutes and 47 seconds
"I just tried to keep pace in the first 10K of the run, because I knew that I could easily pull away in the bike leg," said Mendoza, a second class airman in the Philippine Air Force, in Filipino.
Mendoza, who also ruled the Asian Duathlon Cup in Bangkok two weeks ago, came home nearly two minutes ahead of second-placer Kodo Hiramutso of Japan.
The 25-year-old Hiramatsu clocked 1:57:45 in an impressive show considering that he topped the Asian Aquathlon Championship just a day earlier at The Lakeshore in Mexico town.
Takashi Nakata of Japan, the champion in 2003, took third spot with a time of 1:58:24.
Checking home 20 seconds behind Nakata was another Filipino, Arland Macasieb, the Southeast Asian Games triathlon bronze medalist.
"At least it was a better finish," said Macasieb, who settled for seventh place in the run-swim-run aquathlon race on Saturday.
Lamuel Lau Ching-yin of Hong Kong, the winner in the under-23 age category, completed the top five in 1:59:19.
Nakata initially led the pack by completing the 10K run in 34:05 minutes, almost a full minute ahead of Mendoza.
But Mendoza gradually caught up with the Japanese in the bike leg and then pulled away from his rivals by one minute and 15 seconds at the end of the third lap of the four-loop cycling race.
Guest entry Raphael Baugh of Australia received a special award for completing the race in second overall with a time of 1:57:11.
The national junior triathletes ruled the all-Filipino women's division with 16-year-old Mimi Lucas finishing first in 2:22:37, followed by 19-year-old Lea Coline Langit in 2:36:38.
Senator Pia Cayetano, who also competed in the event, Triathlon Association of the Philippines president Tom Carrasco and Clark Development Corp. president Tony Ng awarded the medals during the closing ceremony.
Source: The Philippine Daily Inquirer