Japan showed anew why it is considered Asia’s triathlon powerhouse by winning six of the eight classes contested in yesterday’s Mt. Mayon ASTC Asian Paratriathlon Championships held for the first time in Legazpi City, Albay even as the Philippines shared the day’s glory by taking first places in both male and female divisions of the Junior Elite category.
Kaji Tetsuki, a silver medalist in the World Cup race in Magog, led the Japanese charge as he took line honors, crossing the finish line first among the paratriathletes that came from eight countries.
He clocked a fast 1:04.40 for the 750m. swim, 20K bike, 5k run to win the Men-PT55 category in a close race, with runner-up Sato Keichi just five seconds behind in 1:04.45. Third place was Korean Jong Kwan Kim, who negotiated the distance in 1:16.17 in the race described as the most scenic triathlon in the country with majestic Mt. Mayon serving as backdrop.
Jumpei Kimura won the Men-PTWC class with an even faster time after adjustments as he crossed the finish line at the Legazpi Boulevard in 1:03.20 initiating a Japanese sweep of the category as Ryota Yoshida finished more than two minutes behind him in 1:05.41. Seiji Tanaka was a distant third in 1:10.36.
In the Men-PTVI, where the Philippines fielded blind twins Joshua and Jerome Nelmida, Hong Kong’s Kim Wa Chu broke the Japanese streak as he finished in 1:05.18 for the gold, followed by Zhaladin Abduvaliev who clocked 1:07.23 and Japanese Satoru Yoneoka, who had 1:08.41.
Jerome Nelmida was the best-placed local entry in 7th place with a time of 1:19.26 even as he and brother Joshua got the biggest applause along the race route. Joshua finished last in 1:26.38.
“We gave it our best and for me, this is my biggest race. Just hearing the people cheering us in the bike lap really touched me, “ said Jerome who will be eyeing the 2020 ASEAN Paragames with his twin brother.
The Philippine campaign suffered a double blow in the Men-PTS4 category, ruled by China’s Jiachao Wang in1:04.25, as both its entries Cebuano Alex Silverio and Sixto Ducay were disqualified.
Silverio made the wrong turn in the swim leg claiming he was disoriented, while Ducay failed to complete all the bike loops. Ducay could have made it to third place if not for his disqualification. Another Japanese, Hideki Uda landed in second place in 1:06.18. Veteran Nurbek Toichubaev moved up to third place in 1:12.15.
“It was unfortunate what happened to Silverio and Ducay, but it should serve as good lessons for them. Overall, this was a very good race with 11 Asian countries participating, including the Asia Cup race this Sunday. We are also very happy with our local organizing group the city government of Legazpi City headed by Mayor Noel Rosal. We look forward to seeing more triathlon races in this area where racing conditions are ideal,” said Triathlon Association President Tom Carrasco Jr.
Mayor Rosal also expressed his own thanks for the opportunity given to promote anew his city to both the local and foreign participants.
“Definitely, we are looking at a long-term relationship with TRAP for the promotion of triathlon in our city,” said Mayor Rosal.
The duo of Cebu natives Kim Remolino and Karen Manayon won in their respective categories in the Junior Elite with Remolino beating two foreign participants. He clocked 1:00.02 for the distance followed by a pair of Macao entries, Chin Wa Wong, 1:00.15 and Yiu Fung Ng, 1:02.45.
“I was first in the swim and then together with Wong and Joshua ( Ramos), we alternated in pacing the bike leg. We left Josh nearing the end of the bike while I left Wong at the halfway mark of the second loop in the run leg for a solo finish,” said Remolino, a 12th grader at Springdale in Cebu.