RP chosen triathlon training camp

Triathlon president Tom Carrasco hopes a Filipino triathlete will make it to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, benefiting from a development program for Asian triathletes to be introduced by the International Triathlon Union (ITU).

Carrasco said the ITU has laid down a program with main goals of increasing the number of national federations or countries in the Beijing triathlon event and to ensure continuous growth and development of the sport.

What makes Carrasco optimistic of seeing a Filipino qualifying for the Beijing Games is the selection of the Philippines as the ITU training camp to select about 6-10 Asians for the "Olympic Development Squad" in the region.

The Subic International Triathlon on May 9-19 serves as the training camp for Asian triathletes who will vie for slots in the development squad.

Carrasco mentioned Miki Quilala, 16, Lea Collin Langit, 17, Mimi Lucas, 15, and Alexandra Ganzon, 18, as among RP triathletes with potential to make the development squad.

Players chosen for the development squad will be pooled in training camps under high performance coaches from Australia then will be given 50 percent subsidy on travel and hotel expenses going to international events staking qualifying points for the Olympics.

"Gusto kasi ng ITU maraming Asian federations na lumaro sa Beijing since Asia ang host continent," said Carrasco.

Carrasco said Japan, China, Kazakhstan and Hong Kong, which had athletes who competed in the Sydney and Athens Olympics, are not qualified in the program.

All the other national federations in the Olympic Council of Asia can enter a maximum of two male and two females in the pool.

"Makapagpasok lang tayo kahit isa, happy na ako at mayroon na tayong tsansa na magkaroon ng Olympic triathlete," said Carrasco.

Australian Brett Mays, who had handled the Indian national team for three years, has been tapped to run the program. He will also be the one to identify those with potentials for the camp.