Monday, August 6, 2007
Leach, Araullo rule Asian O2 triathlon
SUBIC BAY, Olongapo - Australian world-ranked long distance triathlete Bevan Leach reigned in the Asian O2 Triathlon at the Subic Freeport but failed to make good his vow to break the record.
The 32-year old Leach failed to consider the toughness of the race course, particularly the 80K bike leg that followed the 3K open water swim leg, and felt the effect of the dreaded hills of Subic in the final 20K run leg.
The Sydney native clocked 4:21.57, five minutes short for the record set by last year's inaugural leg champion Petr Vabrousek's record by about 5 minutes.
"It was a very tough and challenging course, particularly the hills of the bike leg, plus the heat and humidity, and the Hong Kong guy gave me a scare, I thought the rest could not keep pace with me," said Leach, adding that his victory in the Asian continental championship will earn him enough points to jump to third place in the International Triathlon Union (ITU) rankings for long distance triathletes.
Placing second in the event, sponsored by Sunkist, Fitness First, Gatorade, SPEEDO, Asian CEnter for Insulation, Herbalife, David's Salon, Legenda Hotel, Alaska Slim, host venue SBMA, and media partners Philippine Star, MTV Phils., 99.5 Hit FM, Magic 89.9, Jam 88.3, Wave 89.1, and Max 103.5, was HK entry Jason Chung Shing Hsie who clocked 4:26.50.
Third placer was local bet national duathlon coach Mark Candelaria in 4:32.31.
National champion Sandra Araullo, training for the forthcoming SEA Games, won the distaff side in 5:10.34, way way ahead of runner-up Ayala Land executive Nona Torres, 5:50.35, and last year's champion Popo Remigio who negotiated the distance in 6:07.49.
"I sort of expected to win the race but I did not put pressure on myself, I was not thinking of my opponents but rather on my targeted time which I even bettered," said the 26-year old Araullo, silver medal winner in the 2005 SEA Games also in Subic.
Other celebrities and personalities who joined the multi-distance event were Ayala scion Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Sen. Pia Cayetano, who ran in the relay race, and Adidas managing director Joey Singian.
TRAP president Tom Carrasco expressed satisfaction at the turnout in the Asian Triathlon Confederation (ASTC) and ITU-sanctioned event, citing the continued growth of triathlon in the country, at the same time that the event showcased again the Filipinos' expertise in race organization.
Source: The Philippine Star