Philippines Clinches Two Golds at Asia Triathlon Junior Cup in Malaysia

KAMPAR, PERAK – The Philippine team triumphed in the mixed relay event at the Asia Triathlon Junior Cup, securing their second gold medal of the tournament in Perak, Malaysia, on Sunday. The victory was highlighted by a standout performance in the 375m swim, 5km run, and 1.5km bike race, completing the course in 1 hour, 27 minutes, and 53 seconds.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Filipino quartet comprised of Matthew Justine Hermosa, Kira Ellis, Dayshaun Ramos, and Samantha Corpuz, who outpaced teams from Hong Kong and South Korea. Hong Kong took silver with a time of 1:29:32, and South Korea earned bronze finishing in 1:30:43. Additionally, Kira Ellis secured the first gold for the Philippines on Saturday in the junior women’s sprint distance, marking a dominant performance over the weekend.

Ellis, 18, has shown significant progress in her athletic career, following a five-week training camp in Portugal under coach Sergio Santos. Despite a challenging competition at the European Junior Cup in Hungary where she placed 16th, Ellis’s continuous improvement was evident in Malaysia. Her previous success at the 2023 Cambodia Southeast Asian Games, where she won the mixed aquathlon gold, underscores her rising trajectory in the sport.

The event also saw other Philippine athletes in action; Samantha Corpuz narrowly missed a podium finish, placing fourth, while Dayshaun Ramos finished eighth in the junior men’s category. The team faced a setback when Matthew Justine Hermosa was involved in an accident caused by a Korean competitor, yet he courageously completed the race.

Tom Carrasco, chairman of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines and Asia Triathlon senior vice president, expressed optimism about the potential of the young athletes, particularly highlighting Ellis as a strong contender for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The Philippines has a commendable track record in the Southeast Asian Games, leading the medal tally in triathlon, duathlon, and aquathlon events with a total of 35 medals.