JAPANESE Jumpei Furuya lived up to both his ranking back home and as top seed in yesterday’s Mt. Mayon ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup held in Legazpi City, Albay by dominating the tough men’s elite open race practically from start to finish en route to a solo finish in the event watched by a big local crowd .
For Furuya, 27, it was his first time to race in this Southern Philippine city, saying it was just part of his preparation for the Asian games in Palembang, Indonesia later this month.
He admitted, however, he was not surprised at all that he ruled the event.
“It was a very good race, weather was good and I found it a fast course, too. The bike posed some challenge though,” said the Japanese, who has been ranked no. 1 in Japan these last two years and a member of the young new breed of Japanese triathletes.
He negotiated the 1.5K swim-40K bike-10K run course in 1 hour, 49 minutes and 11 seconds.
Hong Kong’s Oscar Coggins finished second in 1:49.54, admitting he could not catch up anymore with Furuya in the final run loop.
“I realized I did not have the legs anymore so I ran my own pace going into the final 2 kilometers, “ said the Hong Kong-based English runner, who was this year’s ASTC 16 to 19 junior elite champion.
The next six places went to Japanese entries, with Ren Sato taking third in 1:50.23.
Completing the Top 8 were Shogo Ishitsuka (1:50.38), Ryosuke Maeda (1:51.19), Yuichi Hosoda (1:52.05), Makoto Odakura (1:53.20) and Ryotako Otani (1:55.44).
The Japanese streak was broken by Australian Kurt Fryer in 1:56.17, while rounding out the Top 10 male finishers was another Japanese bet Genta Uchida (1:57.07).
The best-placed Filipino was national champion John Chicano, who submitted a finishing time of 2:01.00.
Mark Hosana was 22nd in 2:05.46, even as Nikko Huelgas dropped out because of a punctured tire.
Filipina triathlete Claire Adorna did better in the distaff side as she fended off the last-minute challenge of teammate Kim Kilgroe at the finish line as she negotiated the distance in 2:11.18, just two seconds ahead of the latter.
The champion in the female division of race hosted by the City Government of Legazpi and supported by NTT was frail-looking Yurie Kato, who is ranked fifth back home and is a veteran of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
The 31-year-old Kato had a fast time of 2:05.22 as she left second placer Long Hoi from Macao in the run leg.
Hoi finished in 2:06.11, while another Japanese bet Nina Kishimoto took third place in 2:06.42 to complete the podium finishers in the distaff side.
“This was a test case for us to validate our fielding of entries in the Asian Games. We will go with Kim Mangrobang and Kim Kilgroe in the individual division and with Chicano and Huelgas in the men’s side in Indonesia. Mark and Claire will run the relay, plus either of the two Kims, “ said Triathlon Association President Tomas Carrasco Jr., who joined Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal in awarding the medals and cash prizes to the top finishers.