The Standard Insurance national duathlon team, led by Filipina elite Monica Torres, topped the Powerman Asia Championship in Malaysia last Sunday.
Torres took the Championship for Asian Women Elite, while top caliber-performer Joey delos Reyes placed second to the Philippines’ and SEA Games silver medalist John Chicano in the Asian Men Elite.
Veteran campaigners Emmanuel Comendador also produced a strategic race that saw him finish fourth, with Jarwin Banatao placing sixth overall in the Asian Men Elite.
“I’m very happy with my performance in this year’s international competition. I together with my teammates under Standard Insurance stable am preparing for the SEA Games duathlon events in November,” said Torres.
Powerman, the pinnacle of duathlon competition globally, is the platform for ardent runners and cyclists to master both disciplines.
Last month, Torres, the fastest Filipina in the Cobra Ironman 70.3 for six straight years, Delos Reyes, and other members of the Standard Insurance duathlon team, also dominated the Singapore Duathlon National Championship.
Torres and other members of the national duathlon team will be trained under the Triathlon Association of the Philippines’ coaching program under national coaches Melvin Fausto and coach Bernie Llantada, according to duathlon godfather Judes Echauz, group chair of Standard Insurance.
Members of the team include Delos Reyes, Comendador, Banatao, the country’s top male duathletes Robeno Javier and John Topia, Echauz said.
Forming a formidable combo with Torres is Pauline Fornea, who led the US Naval Academy’s triathlon squad in numerous successful races overseas.
Fausto said the athletes will have to put in a weekly training load of 20 to 30 hours and undergo frequent fitness assessments.
“Even duathlon events will be held in Subic. We still have to familiarize the route and intensely train our athletes, “Fausto said.
Duathlon, which will be held at Subic Freeport during the Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 Games, is making a comeback in the SEA Games after the discipline was last held in 2007 in Thailand, where the Philippines’ Ryan Mendoza won.
The Philippines placed 1-2 in the men’s tournament, courtesy of Nikko Huelgas and John Chicano, and the women’s side through Kim Mangrobang and Claire Adorna in the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia.
