RAYONG, Thailand – Kira Ellis and Kim Remolino secured the silver in the individual events, while Fer Casares claimed a bronze in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games triathlon competition.
The Philippines’ entries salvaged medals despite a bad case of food poisoning that hit several members of the squad, including Raven Alcoseba who was supposed to race in the women’s individual but had to be admitted to a hospital.
READ Philippines rules SEAG men's women's triathlon
Other competitors from Malaysia and Vietnam also fell ill due to food poisoning. The incidents involving the Philippine team has been reported to the Philippine Olympic Committee.
Ellis admitted she was also hospitalized after being part of the winning women’s rely team last Wednesday.
“It was a crazy lead-up to the individual [race],” Ellis said. “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.”
Ellis rued the absence of Alcoseba, her teammate in the gold medal-winning women’s relay team along with Kim Mangrobang.
“She is our strongest athlete. 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,” said Ellis.
Ellis fights on
Ellis was part of a three-woman lead group in the bike leg, but got a 10-second penalty during the bike-to-run transition in relation to the racking of her bike.
Ellis placed second with a time of one hour, one minute, 2.80 seconds - 51 seconds behind Indonesia’s Martina Ayu Pratiwi, who finished the 750m swim, 20km bike, and 5km run race course with a time of 1:00:11.22.
“I’m happy I just got to the start line, and did my best for the Philippines,” said Ellis.
Remolino came out of the swim leg at sixth place, but submitted the second and third-best time in the bike and run respectively to take the silver. Remolino timed 55:02.73, with Rashif Amila Yaqin of Indonesia securing the gold with 54:36.84.
Casares came all the way from eighth after the swim to land the final place in the podium.
“It was a surprise win for me since the last three days, nagre-race kami,” said Remolino. “Tapos, recently we had a problem especially with the tiredness level. ‘Yung iba nagkasakit kami especially kaming individual kaya hindi nakapag-start si Raven since may sakit po siya. So it was a challenge just going to the starting line.”
“We were hoping na we would have a good fight. Kung hindi man mag-medal is to have a great fight,” said Remolino.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
