Swimmer-Turned-Triathlete Wins NAGT Leg 2 Title

Swimmer-turned-triathlete Andrew Kim Remolino of Talisay City continues to make waves in the triathlon scene after beating the heavily-favored Yuan Chiongbian for the men’s overall title of the National Age Group Triathlon (NAGT) Leg 2 Sunday in Danao City, some 33 kilometers north of Cebu City.

Remolino, who also won the first leg in Subic last February, showed that his previous victory was no fluke.

The 16-year-old Remolino clocked 1 hour 21 minutes and 58 seconds after the 1-kilometer swim, 30K bike and 7.5K run.

Chiongbian came second in 1:22:56 and John Caleb Barlin finished third with a time of 1:25:09.

Remolino and Chiongbian were breathing down each other’s necks for majority of the race.

The two young triathletes were the first to come out of the water with Remolino having a slight edge.

Chiongbian and Remolino took turns on the lead in the bike segment and were going full force in the run portion.

The first three loops of the run was a very close battle with only a few steps separating the two triathletes.

It was in the fourth and final loop when Remolino, a member of developmental team for triathlon, started to pull away from Chiongbian, a national team member.

“It was in the final loop of the run when I sense that he was slowing down a bit. So I took that opportunity and ran faster so I can start to break away,” said the student of Talisay City Science High School and a product of the grassroots training.

“I am very happy to win the race. All my trainings and hard work had paid off,” he added.

Remolino is trained by his father Roland, who is a swimming coach in Talisay City.

In his first year in triathlon, Remolino used a heavy racing bike.

But with the support of his team, Auto Focus, he has acquired a brand new bike early this year.

“I am very happy to get the support, because if not for my new equipment I will not perform at this level in the two legs of the NAGT,” he said.

Remolino will try to bring the momentum he has to the Asian Triathlon Cup 2016 on April 16 in Subic, which is a qualifier for the Asian Triathlon Championships in Japan.

The women’s division, on the other hand, was marred withcontroversy after Cianyl Jamae Gonzales of Rider Omega Pro and Aimee Dequina of Bohol, the first two to finish the race, were disqualified because of looping issues in the bike.

According to the marshals, Dequina and Gonzales both lacked one lap during the bike portion and with the disqualification, Jacqui Rose Lamparero who came in 1:48.10 was declared the women’s overall champion.

Mary Luz Shimizu, who had a time of 1:59:12, took second place and Merly Colmenares of Motor Ace Racing was third with 2:00:30.

Gonzales said that on her count, she had it right with eight loops in the bike.

But despite the disqualification, Gonzales showed hersportsmanship.

“I don’t know with the decision. But I think I will let it go and move on,” she said. (PNA) RMA/EB/MP/EDS