SUBIC — Seeking redemption, Michael Comaling copped gold in the beach triathlete event of the 30th Southeast Asian Games modern pentathlon, at the Boardwalk here on Friday.
The 19-year-old native of Ormoc City dominated the event that had the competitors undergoing a shoot-swim-run course, clocking in at 17 minutes and 8.87 seconds.
It was 10.97 seconds faster than runner-up Phurit Yohuang of Thailand and 28.89 seconds ahead of eventual-bronze medalist Muhammad Taufik of Indonesia.
And it was the perfect bounce-back for Comaling after finishing in seventh place on Thursday during the laser-run individual event.
“Actually, kaya namang ipanalo yung laban kahapon pero hindi ako kumain (I was capable of winning yesterday but I did not eat),” rued Comaling. “And I learned my lesson sa mga coach na nag-inspire sa akin na (from coaches who inspired me that) today learn from it, forget the past, and focus on today.
That’s why kumain ng marami and ngayon (I ate a lot and that) gave me energy to win.”
Comaling’s teammate Dexter Ardemer finished in seventh place with a time of 22:05.51.
For the women’s team, luck was on the side of Princess Arbilon.
Arbilon finished the race at a time of 21:29.36 — good for fourth. But Thailand’s Sanruthai Aransiri, who was running third, was penalized during the shoot part of the race that knocked her off the podium and lifted the 17-year-old Filipina to bronze.
“Sa shooting po nawawalan ako ng focus (I lost my focus in shooting event),” lamented Arbilon, who won gold in the mixed team relay of the beach laser-run on Thursday. “Bale nung napansin ko na fifth ako, nag-go lang ako ng go, thinking na makakuha ayun naka bronze naman tayo (When I learned that I was already in fifth place, I pushed myself, thinking that I get the bronze which I did).”
Indonesia finished 1-2 as Dea Salsabila Putri won her second gold with a time of 19:52.73 while partner Cintya Nariska finished second (20:02.02).
The mixed team relay of the triathlon takes place on Saturday. (PR)
