Spots for Youth Olympic Games up for grabs in SUBIT bash

The country’s young triathletes will try to showcase their wares in the 2011 ITU Subic Bay International Triathlon (SUBIT), which unfolds next week at the Subic Bay Freeport. Competitors in the 13-15 mini-sprint, junior female and female elite categories will start competing on Saturday in this event sanctioned by the International Triathlon Union (ITU) and Asian Triathlon Confederation (ASTC). The 13-15 age group are seeking spots for the national youth team which will participate in the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. National pool member Gabriel Allen Santiago, a multi-titled, 14-year-old triathlete, leads the charge in the boys division in the event organized by Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). Santiago is the heavily-favored bet among the participants vying in the 350-meter swim, 10.5-kilometer bike and 2.5-kilometer run. Cagayan de Oro’s Sixto "Louie" Lalanto, Malaysia’s Mohd Tareef and 2009 champion Rommel Uy of Bacolod are out to give Santiago a tough fight. Also expected to crowd the favorites are Misamis Oriental trained Jimuel "Niko" Patilan, and Manila-based triathletes Jose Marie "Jomai" Santos, Jose Nobles IV and Javier Ocampo Malaysian Aisya Farisha Farid and MisOr bet Victoria Deldio, will lead the distaff side. “The SUBIT is one of the toughest races being held in the country because aside from the foreign rivals, the event brings together the best local triathletes in one tournament. Thus, it is very important for our triathletes in the 13-15 age division to prove themselves since we will select from this group the country’s representative to the YOG," said TRAP president Tom Carrasco Jr. Junior male and female elite participants will also try to come up with a solid showing. They will be led by Asian Beach Games veteran Philip Jurolan, Mark Altura, Jose Ignacio Mapa and Kurt Cabanilla, who are likely to get stiff competition from athletes from Hong Kong, Iran and Malaysia. - RCJ, GMA News