Monday, August 13, 2007
Leach, Araullo overwhelm field in Asian O2 Triathlon
SUBIC BAY, OLONGAPO - Australian Bevan Leach won the Asian O2 Triathlon as promised. His vow that he would smash the course record turned out to be an empty boast, however.
Competing in the country for the first time, Leach clocked 4 hours, 21 minutes and 57 seconds to win pulling away from Hong Kong's Jason Chung Shing-hsie, who finished in 4:26.50, and national duathlon coach Mark Candelaria (4:32.31).
The 32-year old Leach's time was way behind the course record of 4:17 set by last year's inaugural race champion Petr Vabrousek, the Czech Republic top gun who was absent this year.
The women's race saw national triathlon champion Sandra Araullo post a runaway victory as well, baring her readiness for the coming Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
Araullo checked in with a time of 5:10.34, way ahead of Ayala Land executive Nona Torres (5:50.35), and last year's champion Popo Remigio (6:07.49).
Leach, who hails from Sydney, said he was surprised at the toughness of the race course, particularly the 80K bike leg that followed the 3K open water swim, and struggled through the hills of Subic in the 20K run leg.
"It was a very tough, challenging course, particularly the hills of the bike leg, plus the heat and the humidity," said Leach. "The Hong Kong guy gave me a scare."
According to Leach, his victory in the Asian continental championship will earn him enough points to jump to third place in the International Triathlon Union rankings for long-distance triathletes.
Leach also praised the big crowd that watched the 150-strong field, as well as the attitude of the competitors in the relay and sprint triathlon races.
"There was a time in the last three laps of the run leg that I just wanted to stop and sit down," said Leach. "Considering everything, I was happy with my time and I would love to come back next year to defend my crown."
"I sort of expected to win the race but I did not put pressure on myself, said the 26-year old Araullo, silver medallist in the 2005 SEAG also held in Subic. "I maintained my pace and focused on my target time which I surpassed."
Other celebrities who joined the event were Ayala scion Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Sen. Pia Cayetano, who ran in the relay race, and Adidas managing director Joey Singian.
Herbalife won the relay race followed by Pinay in Action with Cayetano and Ani de Leon at the forefront of the team bid.
Triathlon Association of the Philippines president Tom Carrasco expressed satisfaction at the turnout in the event, sanctioned by the Asian Triathlon Confederation (ASTC) and ITU.
ASTC secretary general Balwant Singh Ler served as the race's technical delegate.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer