Chicano, Kilgroe top NAGT race

MANILA, Philippines — Southeast Asian Games silver medalist John Chicano and Asian Games veteran Kim Kilgroe emerged victorious in the 2019 National Age-Group Triathlon (NAGT) series opener at San Bernardino inside Subic Bay Freeport yesterday.

In the men’s elite competition of the race organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines, Chicano broke loose in the last two kilometers to win the gold in one hour, 58 minutes, 47 seconds.

Fer Casares, a 21-year-old Filipino-Spanish seeking a slot in the Philippine team, finished second in 2:00:01 while national junior standout Andrew Kim Remolino of Cebu came in third at 2:02:12.

Chicano, who won the SEA Games silver in Singapore in 2017, came out fourth in the swim leg but made his move in the 40-kilometer bike leg before engaging Casares in a tight race in the 10 km run. 

In the women’s elite side of the event backed by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) tourism department and the Philippine Sports Commission, Kilgroe led from start to finish and won in 2:14:57.

Kilgroe capitalized on the absence of reigning SEA Games champion Kim Mangrobang, who is training in Portugal, and Claire Adorna (personal commitments).

Comebacking Alexandra Ganzon finished second in 2:25:56 while Jacqui Lamparero was third in 2:30:32 in the women’s division of the race also sponsored by Gatorade, Standard Insurance and Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines.

In the junior elite men sprint distance (750M swim, 20K bike and 5K run), Tonito Alejo reigned supreme in 1:17:19 followed by Jacob Taylor (1:17:55) and Juan Baniqued (1:18:37). In the junior elite women, Karen Manayon triumphed in 1:26:59, followed by Lauren Plaza (1:29:26) and Erica Bulatao (1:35:01).

 The winners in the standard age-groups were Kris Dinglasan (19-24), Heinrich Gasacao (25-29), Jhon Quinones (30-34), Ronald Mulit and Ines Santiago (35-39), Jualyn Asugbog and Mary Grace Ollindo (40-44), Abe Tayag and Vanj Endaya (45-49), Celma Hitalia (female 50-above), Neil Ong (50-54), Dean Recupero (55-59) and Roman Totanes (60-above).

In the sprint distance age-groups, emerging winners were Mykelle Bulog and Clifford Pusing (16-19), Jess Belonio and Janina Garcia (20-29), Carlo Mejia and Jilliane Caancan (30-39), George Vilog and Ma. Victoria Fereria (40-49) and Peter Gonzales and An Ping Cua (50-above).

Super sprint distance champions were La Union Bull Sharks team members Ronel Victor Cruz and Lady Samantha Corpuz (13-15). Ruling the team relay competition was E-Racing Multisport.

Complete race results can be viewed at Triathlon.org.ph and at TRAP’s Facebook page.