RAYONG, Thailand – The Philippine triathlon team swept all three gold medals on Wednesday, seizing the women’s, men’s, and mixed relay events held at the Leam Mae Phim Beach here.
Kira Ellis and Raven Alcoseba bagged two gold medals for the day after being part of the women’s team relay and mixed team relay events.
Defending individual champion Fer Casares also won a pair of golds for being with the men’s and mixed relay squad for the Philippines.
A late switch brought Ellis to the women’s team relay race in what Philippine 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 paid off with Ellis joining forces with Alcoseba and Kim Mangrobang for the Philippines’ first gold in triathlon on Wednesday morning to finish the 300m swim, 8km bike, and 2km run course at one hour, 10 minutes, and 14 seconds.
“It was a last-minute change in the schedule,” said the 19-year-old 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 strategized and get a gap for whoever and try to lead through the entire race.”
The men’s team that also included Matthew Hermosa and Inaki Lorbes was the next to capture the gold, checking in at 1:04:05, 10 seconds ahead of Indonesia.
Battling the scorching heat at the race course, the mixed team relay of Ellis, Kim Remolino, Alcoseba, and Casares also brought home the gold but not without drama.
Casares, the team’s anchor, was meted with a 10-second penalty during the transition from swim to bike but he managed to wipe out the gap to win the gold for his team by four seconds over Indonesia with a time of 1:30:31.
“The MTR was around 11 o clock and it’s very hot in Thailand, and I don’t do well with heat. I just tried to psych myself up starting for the team again. I knew it would be a lot harder for me to get a gap, let alone, come together with Indonesia, but I tried my best for the team.” said Ellis.
“Fer as our anchor, we knew he is a good cyclist and a runner so we were really screaming at him with the run and the bike to catch. He got a penalty and it was still quite close. My heart rate was jumping up and down,” Ellis said.
The PH team competes in the duathlon events on Thursday.
Mo Billacura 