Asian body approves course for Olympic qualifier in Subic

The Asian Triathlon Confederation (ASTC) has stamped its seal of approval on the course of the Speedo Asian Triathlon Championship 2004 set at Subic Bay Freeport on April 3-4 even as it expressed satisfaction on the preparation for this Olympic qualifying event.

A tactical race is seen notwithstanding the easy 1.5-kilometer swim and 10-km run legs as the three-loop 40-kilometer bike course is toughened with a 2.1-km uphill climb at the midsection of the lap.

"With this adjustment our Asian triathletes will have a preview of the punishing bike leg in Athens," said Masao Nakayama, ASTC vice president who headed the three-man team that inspected the race route and met with the organizing committee headed by Tom Carrasco, Triathlon Association of the Philippines president and ASTC senior vice president.

"We expect a well-organized championship going by the presentation we viewed and the urgency all our concerns were addressed," said Andrew Patrick, many-time Subic Bay International Triathlon competitor and now chair of the ASTC Technical Committee.

Taka Nagaya, ASTC technical committee chair for the 2005-2007 period, rounded out the team evaluating the championship sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Department of Tourism, Legenda Hotel, New Balance, Powerbar, Sports Radio (AM 918), Reliv, Gatorade and Philippine Olympic Committee.

Nakayama, Patrick and Nagaya capped their visit with a meeting with Red Dumuk, organizing committee executive director and ASTC technical committee member, to formulate measures for elevating Asian triathlon technical standards.

Meanwhile, list-up for the blue-ribbon competition and its twin event, the Asian Age-group Triathlon Championship, has shifted to high gear.

Registration: {HYPERLINK mailto:contactus@triathlon,org.ph} orTRAP office at second floor, Building Alpha, Philsports, Pasig City (tel. nos. 0920 6030898/Dong; 0916 2653109/Fabie); POC satellite office, ground floor, PSC Administration Bldg., P. Ocampo Street, Malate, Manila (tel. No. 523 6280); and all Speedo concept stores are the other registration centers.