Amid the devoted Japanese pros who venture to Tinian yearly for the triathlon and reef swim were very young participants and seniors.
The dominating champion title went to returning pro triathlete Takeshi Aoyama, 35, of Japan, who clocked in at 24:35 in the 1.5 km swim; 1:18:12 in the 40 km bike; and 00:41:33 in the 10 km run for a total of 2:24:20.
Dominating the females was Chiaki Umeta, 33, of Japan, who clocked in at 58:33 in the swim; 1:43:33 in the bike; and 00:55:21 in the run; for a total time of 3:37:27, and tenth overall in the triathlon event.
At 61 years old, Hideaki Uriu of Japan came in fourth overall in the entire event, clocking in at 0:39:45 in the swim; 1:39:40 in the bike; and 0:50:04 in the run; for a total time of 3:09:29. Also competing was Masayuki Mizukoshi, 60, of Japan, who swam in 9:30:53; biked in 1:55:12; and ran in 1:31:48; for a total time of 4:06:53. Mizukoshi ranked 14th overall in the triathlon event.
In the female division, Yoko Mineo, 62, of Japan came in at second in the overall female category, clocking in at 0:42:47 in the swim; 1:53:24 in the bike; and 1:05:04 in the run; for an overall time of 3:41:15. Mineo was the most senior triathlete competing.
The youngest triathlon participant was Joshua A. Manglona, 22, who timed in at 44:06 in the 1.5 km swim; 1:41:41 in the 40-km bike; and
1:09:08 in the 10-km run. His total time was 3:34:55, and earned him seventh place overall.
Manglona is well known for his previous triathlon events, ranging from the XTERRA Saipan Championship, Tagaman, and the Saipan Marathon, to international events such as the South Pacific Games in the Cook Islands and the XTERRA Championship in Maui, Hawaii.
Manglona is set to go to Japan in July for the 30th Kaike Triathlon where he will be the only Chamorro American competing with 800 Japanese triathletes in Japan’s first and oldest triathlon event. Manglona is the son of James K. and Emily A. Manglona of Tinian.
The Tinian Turquoise Blue Triathlon & Reef Swim also features three swim events at the pristine Taga Beach, with distances of 1.5 km, 3.0 km, and 4.5 km. In the 1.5 km swim, Noriko Ito, 61, of Japan clocked in at 0:32:53 and came in first overall and first female finisher overall. The oldest swimmer was Seiko Itakura, 73, of Japan, who clocked in at 0:45:34 and ranked seventh overall and second female finisher.
The youngest participant was James Kim, 17, a local up and coming Tinian athlete, clocked in at an impressive 0:33:14. Kim, who also ran the 10 km race in 1:09:42, is the son of Jin Seup Kim and In Sook Chung of Tinian.
In the 3.0 km swim, Yuko Matsumoto, 56, of Japan ranked first overall and first female finisher overall at a time of 1:07:32. The oldest participant was Yukiko Nagai, 62, of Japan, who clocked in at 1:08:3 and ranked third overall and third overall female finisher.
In the 4.5 km swim Satoru Seto, 41, of Japan finished at 1:20:30 and ranked first place overall. The oldest participant was Konomi Oka, 69, of Japan, who clocked in at 2:24:56 and ranked seventh overall and fourth female finisher overall.
The Tinian triathlon is part of the KFC Triathlon Club’s annual Triathlon Island Series, and is also sponsored by the DFC Triathlon Club of Japan, the Tinian Mayor’s Office, Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino, and the Marianas Visitors Authority.
This year’s series kicked off in March with the 2010 Tagaman Triathlon, followed by the Tinian Turquoise Blue Triathlon & Reef Swim in June. The series continues with the Guam Triathlon also in June, the Rota Blue Triathlon in November, and ends with the Palau Shell Rainbow Triathlon in December. For more information, visit the KFC
Triathlon website at http://www.kfctriathlon.jp/, the Marianas Visitors Authority website at http://mymarianas.com/, or send e-mail to [email protected] or MVA’s Frank Tudela at [email protected].
Young and old alike are invited to join in next year’s Tinian triathlon, which will be held in June. (PR)
