Kim, Fer gun for SEAG slots

Kim Mangrobang and Fer Casares will be shooting for slots in the national squad when they compete in the 2022 National Duathlon Championships on 4 December at the New Clark City in Tarlac.

Triathlon Association of the Philippines president Tom Carrasco said the national tourney will serve as one of their criteria for athletes who want to see action in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games that will be held in Cambodia next year.

Aside from Mangrobang and Casares, who ruled their respective triathlon events in the previous biennial meet, Filipino duathletes will test their resolve against competitors from Australia, Brazil, France, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and the United States.

Carrasco said Filipino athletes have to do well in the sprint leg since their SEA Games rivals in Singaporeans and Malaysians are known to be fast runners.

“The main action is in the sprint event since Singapore and Malaysia will be sending their best to measure our athletes,” said Carrasco, clarifying that they will also take into consideration that previous results of all duathlon events for this year in assembling the national squad.

“The top Filipino finishers will be on the shortlist for the SEA Games in Cambodia, but we will also consider the other duathlon events results in 2022.”

The Portugal-trained Mangrobang clocked two hours, 13 minutes and 22 seconds to clinch the gold medal in the women’s division while Casares clocked 1:56:57 to reign supreme in the men’s side of the triathlon competition in the Hanoi biennial meet.

They also represented the country in the World Games in Birmingham in July.

Carrasco said both Mangrobang and Casares are now preparing for the 2022 Asia Triathlon Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia this Saturday.

The Asia Cup will feature standard distance races as well as the sprint and super sprint events along with the best runners from Singapore and Malaysia.