THE Philippines is expected to dominate the triathlon competitions of the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.
That’s because defending champions Nikko Huelgas and Claire Adorna have been coming up with good times and results in their preparation for the Games.
In the Asian championships in Palembang two weeks ago, Huelgas was seven minutes faster than Shinozuka Rikigoro when they saw action in the elite men’s division.
Huelgas clocked a time of two hours and 50 seconds to become the best-finishing athletes from Southeast Asia.
His teammate, John Chicano was in 28th at 2:04.08, with Rikigoro landing 37th at 2:07.53.
“God willing, maka-double gold tayo,” said Triathlon Association of the Philippines secretary general Tom Carrasco.
The second gold can come from defending titlist Claire Adorna or Kim Mangrobang in the women’s division.
Adorna is recovering from an ankle injury, and will be back from a competition in Phuket.
On the other hand, Mangrobang is returning from Hungary following a competition, which came at the end of her training stint in Portugal.
She competed against elite Olympic triathletes, and has come up with improved times, said Carrasco.
Mangrobang, who is coming off a training stint in Portugal, competed against Olympic triathletes in Hungary.