Cebu City hosts national triathlon Jan. 18

Cebu City is hosting the National Triathlon Trials (NTT) set Jan.18 next year following the recent formal signing of the agreement between the host city, represented by Jonathan Guardo, chairman of the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC), and Tom Carrasco Jr., president of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP).

The two-in-one event, which also features the fourth National Inter-Club Triathlon championships, is expected to attract close to 150 individual and team entries from the different regions of the country.

"The selection of Cebu as host city of the 2003 NTT is in line with the thrust of TRAP to promote triathlon in places outside of Metro Manila. As it is, Cebu is the third regional host city after Dumaguete and Iloilo," said Carrasco adding that Danao and last year’s host Iloilo, also offered to host the event.

Guardo expressed elation at the choice of Cebu for the NTT and the national inter-club competition, saying Cebu, together with Danao, Cagayan de Oro, and Laguna, is a major triathlon center in the Philippines.

"We are certainly happy that Cebu has been given this opportunity and the Cebu City Sports Commission, together with the Cebu and Lapu-Lapu City local governments will ensure that next year’s NTT will be one of the biggest in local triathlon history," said Guardo of the event also backed by Osaka Iridology, Guardo Sports, Speedo, and the Philippine Sports Commission.

The top finishers in the elite division of the event, which offers close to P100,000 in cash prizes plus additional P200,000 for incentives on record-breaking performances, for the three different categories will make it to the final candidates’ list of the national triathlon team that will undergo training here and abroad for the Asian Championships later this year.

Defending champions in the elite divisions are Noel Salvador from Bacolod and recently-crowned Philippine Ironman Triathlon women’s division champion Ani de Leon. There will also be competitions for under 23 years old and seven age groups in the standard distance while 16 to 19 years old entries will do the shorter sprint distance.