Triathletes rocked by food poisoning

RAYONG, Thailand — Kira Ellis wound up with a silver, while Kim Remolino and Fer Casares seized the silver and bronze at the close of the triathlon competitions of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games at the Laem Mae Phim Beach.

The 19-year-old Ellis clocked one hour, one minute, 2.80 seconds, 51 seconds behind Indonesia’s Martina Ayu Pratiwi, who timed 1:00:11.22 at the 750m swim, 20km bike, and 5km racecourse.

Cases of food poisoning, however, marred the Philippine campaign in the endurance races, with Ellis having to compete by her lonesome after Raven Alcoseba was admitted to a hospital due to the illness.

“Gusto ng puso, ayaw ng katawan,” was how one of the members of the triathlon delegation described Alcoseba’s condition.

Ellis admitted she too was not at her 100 percent in the race after staying overnight in the hospital after her gold medal in the women’s team relay and mixed team relay last Wednesday, before managing to cop a medal in the individual competition.

Remolino and Caseres were also not spared from being ill, as well as a couple of other competitors in the race.

The Philippine Olympic Committee has already been informed of the matter by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines.

“It was a crazy lead-up to the individual,” Ellis lamented.

“I got food poisoning after the triathlon relays, and I was in the hospital that night. We were kinda resting the day before this to try and get better. I had a day to rest because my teammate Raven, she got it last night which was unfortunate because she really should be here more than me.”

“She is our strongest athlete,” said Ellis of Alcoseba.

“If she was here, I think things would have been a lot different. I’m really heartbroken that we couldn’t race together because I know how hard she works and we could do it together.”

Considering the circumstances, Ellis still performed a great race.

Ellis was in a three-woman lead group in the bike leg and was the first to arrive at the bike-to-run transition. She, however, encountered problems in racking her bike, leading to Pratiwi passing her, and Ellis being slapped with a 10-second penalty during that transition, losing more precious time.

“I’m happy I just got to the start line, and did my best for the Philippines,” Ellis said.

Remolino came out of the water in sixth place, but shaved off the gap, submitting the second-best and third best-time in the bike and run, respectively. He clocked 55:02.73, with Rashif Amila Yaqin of Indonesia taking the gold with 54:36.84.

Casares, on the other hand, came all the way from eighth after the swim, thanks to his well-known strengths in the bike and run.