International Triathlon a success

MAMBAJAO, Camiguin - Defending national triathlon champion George Vilog from the Philippine Army made it a back-to-back performance as he bested anew Fil-Am Arland Macasieb in Saturday morning's National Triathlon Championship held simultaneously with the Camiguin International Triathlon.

Banking on his extensive triathlon training camp experience in Thailand prior to the 2007 SEA Games where he took the silver medal in the men's triathlon event, the 31 year old Vilog had to buck a bum stomach en roué to that solo victory in 2:04.13 in the 1.5K swim-40K bike-10K run Olympic distance race while Macasieb clocked 2:06.06 followed by Bacolod bet and former national national triathlete Noel Salvador in 2:07.46.

Vilog received P5,000 for his effort and a possible stint in the Bali Asian Beach Games in October.

Macasieb, 32, a two time bronze medalist in the SEA Games, conceded defeat to Vilog.

The bigger story was in the women's elite where erstwhile pacesetter and many-time national champion Sandra Araullo missed a turn in the final run leg and was disqualified, enabling national teammate and SEA Games bronze medalist Mimi Lucas to take first place in 2:22.40 even as duathlete Monica Torres moved up to second place with a time of 2:32.31., after overtaking Asian Games veteran LC Langit in the bike leg, Langit did not finish the race.

Junior sprint champions were Kim Mangrobang and Joash Serrano, clocking 1:16.49 and 1:07.05 respectively.

On his part, Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP ) president Tom Carrasco was happy aboput the outcome of the event.

“It was a very good beginning for us, we had a lot of challenges in the organizing side but with what we learned today and the relationships built, plus the support of Gov. Romualdo, we will do a lot better come the Asian 03 Long Distance race to beheld here also in August, we also spotted potential athletes for the training pool” said Carrasco who was joined by the Governor in the awarding together with SPEEDO's Malu Nunez.

The race hosted by Camiguin Gov. JJ Romualdo and the DOT and sponsored by SPEEDO, David's Salon, Asian Centre for Insulation, Fitness First, Gatorade, and supported by the PSC and the Cagayan De Oro Triathlon group and the Triathlon Association of Davao.