Top Filipino triathletes Fer Casares and Kim Mangrobang ramp up their game when they participate in tough overseas tournaments next month in a preparation for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh.
Casares, who has Spanish lineage, is scheduled to see action in New Zealand thrice starting with the 2023 Oceania Triathlon Cup Wakana on 17 February. It will be followed by events in Taupo on 25 February and in New Plymouth from 25 to 25 March.
Mangrobang, meanwhile, will head to South America as she struts her wares in the 2023 Americas Triathlon Cup La Guaira on 11 February in Venezuela.
Casares and Mangrobang won golds in the last SEA Games held in Hanoi.
Meanwhile, Mangrobang is in South America for the 2023 Americas Triathlon Cup La Guaira in Venezuela on 11 February. After that, Mangrobang competes in the South American Championships Villarica on 5 March in Chile and the 2023 Americas Triathlon Cup Pucon on 12 March before reuniting with Casares in New Zealand for the New Plymouth meet.
Triathlon Association of the Philippines president Tom Carrasco Jr. said both athletes are not only preparing for the SEA Games and the 19th Asian Games this September in China but also attempting to earn points for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“She (Mangrobang) is in San Carlos, Brazil. She left last 9 January. They’re competing for Olympic points that’s why Kim is in South America and Fer is in Australia,” Carasco said.
“We haven’t selected anyone yet but we already have a short list but we have not announced yet for our SEA Games lineup.”
Carasco is optimistic with Mangrobang and Casares’ constant exposure to high-level competition gives them an edge in the upcoming biennial meet.
“For SEA Games, there might be a maximum of 20 athletes joining. Kim and Fer have an edge,” Carasco said.
“They didn’t stop training and they trained and compete at a high level.”
