SOUTHEAST Asian Games standouts Claire Adorna, Kim Mangrobang, Nikko Huelgas, and Jonard Saim will continue to train and compete overseas as the Triathlon Association of the Philippines hopes to reach greater heights.
After stamping its mark with double gold in the Southeast Asian Games, Carrasco’s focus is to bring triathlon to the next level and to improve the country’s standing in Asia.
“Expose sa high performance training camp and competitive activities in Asia,” said TRAP president Tom Carrasco.
[See SEA Games champions Nikko Huelgas, Claire Adorna finish in top 10 in Taipei triathlon]
“Example, nasa Portugal yung mga bata sa Lisbon. Nikko and Kim Mangrobang competed in a European Cup. So yun pa lang, sabay na. Train, compete,” added Carrasco, who is also the Philippine Olympic Committee chairman.
“We have asked the Philippine Sports Commission na bigyan kami ng additional support or supplemental budget para maibalik natin sa high performance sa mga atleta natin.”
[See Claire Adorna delivers as triathlete provides PH first gold in 28th SEA Games]
After Portugal, the Philippine triathletes will compete in Hong Kong and in the International Triathlon Union World Cup in Korea, both in October, as Carrasco stressed the need to pick the right tournaments to earn world ranking points.
“Dahan dahan lang kasi ang importante makakuha ng ranking points,” adding that the association’s target is to make it to the top 200 and close in on places in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
However, Carrasco admitted, “We’re out of 200 kaya yun yung challenge natin.”
[See Nikko Huelgas reigns supreme in SEA Games triathlon to give Philippines second gold medal]
In the Incheon Asian Games last year, Adornafinished seventh and Mangrobang was ninth. Saim and Huelgas finished 10th and 11th, respectively.
Carrasco proudly shared that Portuguese coach Sergio Santos rates Mangrobang and Adorna as potential Olympians, but currently the men’s division in the Olympics is too strong for the Filipinos.
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