MAGPAPADALA ang Cebu ng malaking delegasyon sa 2025 National Age Group Triathlon (NGAT) tournament na gaganapin sa Jan. 25 at 26 sa Subic Bay Freeport.
Ang contingent ay pinangungunahan ni Andrew Kim Remolino, ang defending men’s elite titlist sa torneo na inorganisa ng Triathlon Association of the Philippines.
“It’s gonna be a hard race to start the season since everyone’s really getting ready for it,” pahayag ni Remolino sa isang panayam noong Linggo.
“The NGAT is the first qualifying race to get a slot for the SEA (Southeast) Games in Thailand, so for now, we are just preparing for the things we could improve before the race day,” dagdag ng 23-year-old mula sa Talisay.
Nagwagi siya ng aquathlon silver sa 2023 Cambodia SEA Games.
Ang Thailand SEA Games ay nakatakda sa December ngayong taon.
Si Remolino ay nagwagi sa 2024 NGAT, na may Olympic distance na 1.5-kilometer swim, 40K bike at 10K run, sa loob ng 56 minuto at 56 segundo, laban kina fellow Cebuano Matthew Justine Hermosa na nagtala ng personal best na 56:57 at Baguio City’s Dayshaun Ramos (57:31).
Magbabalik din ngayong taon si Raven Faith Alcoseba, na naorasan ng 1:03:55 upang dominahin ang women’s division laban kina Erika Nicole Burgos ng Tanauan, Batangas (1:05:39) at Kira Ellis (1:06:16).
Nakopo nina Hermosa, Burgos, Ellis at Iñaki Emil Lorbes ang mixed team gold medal sa Cambodia SEA Games.
Ang iba pang Cebuanos sa lineup ay sina Renz Wynn Corbin (men’s elite); John Michael Lalimos (men’s junior elite); Nicole Marie Del Rosario (women’s elite); Alex Niño Silverio and Cedei Abellana (para triathlon); Zackary Angelo Da Silva and Henry Ezekiel Go (youth male); Christy Ann Perez, Niala Kyrzl Limas at Henia Ethania Go (youth female); John Wayne Ybañez (age group men); Venice Herbias (age group women); Kian Manabat (16-19); Mika Natural (13-15); Zia Angel Da Silva (8-under); Theodore Son at John Luigi Remolino II (9-10); Safficka Son at Zoe Angel Da Silva (11-12); at Althea Arciaga (9-10).
“I’m expecting a podium finish for all my athletes,” pahayag ni Cebu contingent coach Roland Remolino. PNA