MANILA – Kim Andrew Remolino and Erika Nicole Burgos are hoping to be in their best forms to earn slots in the national triathlon team for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand this December.

At the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games, Remolino won the aquathlon silver and triathlon bronze medals while Burgos won the mixed relay gold medal with Kira Ellis, Matthew Hermosa, and Inaki Lorbes.

Last Sunday, Remolino and Burgos proved their superiority by securing victories in the Sunrise Sprint Lapu-Lapu in Cebu.

Remolino, representing Talisay Luigi Triathlon Group-Go for Gold, clocked 1:10:03 in the race featuring 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer (km) bike, and 5-km run to retain the men's overall title.

"I feel that my fitness level has improved, especially in bike because I controlled my pace better, so I'm happy with the win," said the Cebuano in an interview Friday.

Remolino topped the swim leg (9:12), kept a steady pace in the bike leg (39:28), and registered the best time of 17:31 in the run leg. He was also the top performer in the 25-29 age group category.

Hermosa (1:10:34) was second overall, followed by Renz Corbin (1:11:41).

Burgos, who competed for the Santé Barley team, secured the women's title with a time of 1:20:31.

Eunice Caluya, who was second overall with a time of 1:22:37, bagged the 16-19 title. Cebuana Nicole Marie del Rosario (1:27:23) was third overall.

"It was definitely not the best, especially on the run. I wasn't exactly feeling recovered from the jetlag so I only did what I could," said the 23-year-old Burgos, also the 20-24 age-group champion.

Burgos, a sports science graduate from the University of the Pilipinas-Diliman, was runner-up at the Century Tuna IRONMAN 70.3 Subic Bay in Zambales last June 15.

Other winners in the age-group division were John Michael Lalimos (16–19), Vic Montebon (30–34), Raymund Velasco (35–39), Carlito Tomo (40–44), Stewart Apat (45–49), Edgar Fuentes (50–54), Alia Bonifacio (55–59) and Jesus Fresco Jr. (60–64) in the men's division while in the women's division were Shamira Habie (25–29), Pauline Fornez (30–34), Hannah Cobarrubias (35–39), Isabel Locsin (40–44), Zusette Co (45–49), Merriam Calda (50–54), Lolita Abella (55–59) and Mariette Scoop (60–64). (PNA)