Pinoy triathletes storm into 3 SEAG golds

RAYONG, Thailand — Team Philippines got a huge boost in its gold medal collection from its men’s and women’s triathletes after completing a three-event sweep Wednesday at Laem Mae Phim, Klaeng district in Rayong here.

The Filipinos dominated the swim, bike and run contests, plucking mints left and right after ruling the men’s, women’s and mixed team relay events of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games triathlon competition.

Filipina triathletes Kira Ellis, Kim Mangrobang and Raven Alcoseba clocked in an hour, 10 minutes and 14 seconds in the race held at the picturesque southern tip of Thailand’s Gulf of Siam, about a two-hour drive from the capital Bangkok.

Not to be outdone, the men’s team of Aki Lorbes, Matthew Hermosa and Fer Casares made it a double celebration after finishing on top with a time of 1:04:05.

In the afternoon’s mixed relay race, Ellis, Caseres, Alcoseba and Andrew Remolino teamed up to complete the sweep with a 1:30:31 finish for the top podium.

“I’m proud of the (women’s team) with the double gold and the boys got gold as well. So the Philippines sweeps today. So that was crazy. People are gonna love cheering at the end of our times,” the 19-year-old Ellis said.

A late switch brought Ellis to the women’s team relay race together with Mangrobang and Alcoseba in what Filipino triathlon officials described as a calculated move in their bid for a gold medal after Indonesia swept all team events in aquathlon on Tuesday.

“It was a last-minute change in the schedule,” said Ellis on the switch from Erika Nicole Burgos in the women’s team relay.

“I wasn’t supposed to race, but then we thought, if I start for the team and Raven finishes with the team, we really have a strong chance at getting gold. It worked out. We tried to strategize and get a gap for whoever and try to lead through the entire race.”