Thursday, March 27, 2008
Speedo-NAGT kicks off in Davao Sunday, Mar.30
The country's triathlon age group campaigners start their quest for personal glory and a chance to be come a member of the national triathlon training pool on Sunday, March 30 at the kick-off leg of the 2008 SPEEDO-National Age Group Triathlon ( NAGT ) Series in Davao City.
Hosted by the Davao Insular Waterfront Hotel where the race will start and end, the 1K open water swim-30K bike – 7K run events is expected to draw around 70 entries, both local triathletes and visiting ones from nearby provinces including Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao's other triathlon center in the region.
The race, organized by the Triathlon Association of Davao ( TRIAD ) headed by Dr. Oscar Escudero, and sponsored by Fitness First, David's Salon, Gatorade, and Asian Center for Insulation Phils., is the first of a six legged series that serves as the triathlon Association of the Philippines “ ( TRAP ) grassroots development program for the sport.
“ The increasing popularity of triathlon in Mindanao has been helped a lot by our age group races which provides opportunities for newcomers and competition is on an equal basis as no national athletes are allowed to join, in fact what happens is the series champion for the year will be elevated to the national training team, “ said TRAP president Tom Carrasco who will be in Davao personally to witness the event.
After Davao, the next SPEEDO-NAGT race is set on May 25 inside the Clark Economic Zone in Pampanga, followed by the 3rd leg in Sogod , Cebu on July 6, the 4 th leg in Cagayan de Oro, on Sept.21, the 5 th leg in UP-Los Banos on Sept. 27, and the final leg which will be held inside the Ayala-Alabang Village in Muntinlupa on Oct.12.