Shahrom Misses Bronze In Duathlon

PATTAYA, Dec 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysia finished empty handed in the duathlon event of the SEA Games here, with Shahrom Abdullah missing out on the bronze by just 10 seconds while a crash during the cycling part cost Mariana Mohamed a shot at the medal.

The 28-year-old Shahrom, currently ranked among the top 100, finished the event in fourth place in two hours three minutes and 27.81seconds while teammate Heidilee Mohamed was a rung below in 2:06:38.82s.

Two-time Asian champion Ryan Mendoza of the Philippines clinched the gold after clocking 1:59.19.09s while Thailand's Amnar Srichat (2:03:14.93s) and Filipino August Benedicto (2:03:16.09s) took the silver and bronze respectively.

In the women's event, Saifon Piawong won the gold medal in a time of two hours 14:19s, nine minutes faster than silver medallist and compatriot Sontiya Saiwaeo while the bronze medal went to Analiza Dysangco of the Philippines.

Mariana, a mother of two, was unlucky when she crashed in the bike event and finished the race in fifth spot with a time of 2:28:25s while teammate Stephanie Chok came in sixth in 2:40:33s.

Team manager Lau Kong Yew said that he was expecting one or two medals today.

"Mariana was unfortunate when she crashed and had some bruises. We hope to do better tomorrow," he said.

The duathlon comprises a 10km run, 40km cycling and 5km run competition while in triathlon, athletes swim over 1.5km swim, cycle 40km and run 10km

-- BERNAMA

Duathlon: Versatile Mariana eyeing a golden debut

Mariana (344) leading Analiza Dysangco (345) and Kimbeley Yap (346)
in the first 11km run leg of Powerman Malaysia 2007

BOOSTED by a superb showing in the Malakoff Powerman Malaysia duathlon in Seri Manjung, Perak, on Sunday, Mariana Mohammad (pic) is set for a golden debut in the Korat Sea Games next month.

Mariana finished ahead of her Southeast Asian rivals -- Analiza Dysangco of the Philippines and Jeanette Wong of Singapore -- in the Malakoff Powerman Malaysia duathlon despite suffering from severe stomach cramps.

She came in fourth in Seri Manjung after completing the 11km run-64km bike-10km run course in three hours, 23 minutes and 51 seconds.

But Mariana, a 29-year-old mother of two, is playing down her chances of winning gold in Pattaya, where duathlon will be held, despite being installed as the early favourite.

"I'm going there with no expectations of winning medals other than to do my best and make my country and family proud," said Mariana at a post-Powerman Malaysia press conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
A former triathlon participant, Mariana switched to duathlon after learning of the sport's inclusion in the Sea Games.

"I was never very good at swimming so I decided to try the duathlon instead. I started to train really hard this year when I found out it was included in the Sea Games.

"I was determined to compete in the Sea Games and nothing was going to stop me."

Mariana laid down her marker as a serious contender for the Sea Games gold after defeating Analiza to win the Phillipines National Open Duathlon Championships in June.

"Analiza will again be my main rival at the Sea Games. I just need to be able to keep pace with her during the run as she is a better runner while I'm more comfortable on the bike.

"She knows this and will try to open a lead during the first run. I'll have to chase her down on the bike before going flat out on the final run," said Mariana, whose brother Mohamad Heidilee is also in the national triathlon Sea Games team.

The Sea Games event is over a shorter distance than the Powerman Malaysia, consisting of a 10km run-40km bike-5km run course, which Mariana said would be to her disadvantage.

"The shorter distance favours Analiza, as the bike run is shorter. I will just have to work out a proper strategy," she said.

Shahrom Abdullah is Malaysia's leading men duathlon athlete after finishing seventh in the Powerman Malaysia, one spot behind Sea Games favourite Ryan Mendoza of the Philippines.

"I was devastated after the race as I had hoped to come in ahead of Ryan," he said.

Housewife Mariana gets her wish

KUALA LUMPUR: Mariana Mohamad (pic) always wanted to represent the country in a multi-sport carnival but has never got the chance to do so until now.

Duathlon is in the SEA Games programme for the first time and the full-time housewife was determined not to miss the boat to Pattaya and she has been training diligently.

And a fourth-place finish in the Malakaff Powerman Malaysia on Sunday has whetted the appetite of the 29-year-old and mother of two to go for glory at the Games.

Mariana held her own against a strong international field with only world champion Erika Csomor of Hungary, world number two Michelle Parsons of Britain and world number six Reka Brassay, also from Hungary, beating her to the finish line.

Mariana clocked 3'23:51 and managed to shave 14 minutes off her finishing time last year in the 11km run-64km cycling-10km run event.

Besides Mariana, the other Malaysian entry for women's duathlon at the Games is Stephanie Chok Kui Eng. Mariana's younger brother Heidilee will represent Malaysia in the men's competition together with Shahrom Abdullah, who finished seventh in Sunday's race.

The SEA Games race is over a shorter distance of 10km run-40km cycling-5km run and Mariana is determined to stay ahead of her rivals in the region again.

“I had cramps towards the later stages on Sunday but I was determined to finish despite the pain. I'm happy with my finish and I want to go faster,” she said.

“I see Analiza Dysangco of the Philippines as one of my strongest rivals. She is much better in running but if I can stay with her in the first part, I have a good chance because I am a much better cyclist.”

Mariana has always been passionate about endurance sports. She started out as a triathlete in 2004 but switched to duathlon because she was not a good swimmer.

“When I found out that duathlon will be one of the medal sports in the SEA Games early this year, I was determined to get a place in the team,” she said.

“I went for a few competitions to get good results to win selection. I have to make a lot of sacrifices and time adjustments to train and earn my berth in the SEA Games. If I win a medal, it will be worth all the efforts that I have put in.”

The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said that barring injuries or illness, Mariana and Shahrom could be considered sure bets for a medal.

“They have proven themselves against the best in the world. What's left to be determined is whether it will be gold, silver or bronze,” he said.

“Duathlon is still relatively new in Malaysia but it has a large following among all ages in Singapore while the Philippines are the powerhouses in the region.”

World champs Vansteelant and Csomor stamp their marks

SERI MANJUNG: The world champions proved too strong for the rest of the field in the Malakoff Powerman Malaysia 2007 in Seri Manjung yesterday.

The world number one male duathlete, Joerie Vansteelant of Belgium, and the top female, Erika Csomor of Hungary, dominated the 11km run-64km cycling-10km run event from start to finish.

Their efforts were worth US$5,000 each.

Vansteelant, who was the runner-up to his late brother, Benny, last year, fulfilled his determination to keep the title in the family by setting a new record of 2'39:49 – a good five minutes ahead of the pack.

“My thoughts were on Benny during the second half of the race and I just gave it all I had. The crowd were really supportive and I found a final burst of speed,” he said.

Dutchman Armand van der Smissen finished second in 2'45:14 and Canadian Luke Dragstra was third in 2'45:49.

Crispine Onyango (002) leads eventual winner Joerie Vansteelant (001), Ryan Mendoza (013) and Rob Woestenborghs (012) during the first 11km run leg.

World Champion Vansteelant crosses the finish line.

Malaysia’s Shahrom Abdullah and Wong Ah Thiam finished seventh and eighth respectively in 3'00:08 and 3'11:53.

“This year’s course is much tougher than last year but I’m happy to have bettered my placing from ninth to seventh,” said Shahrom, a member of the Malaysian duathlon squad for the Korat SEA Games next month.

The women’s race was more closely fought and defending champion Csomor's decision to come early to prepare paid off handsomely – winning the race in 3'07:39.

“I know that the heat can be my biggest problem and I got in more training in local weather. The field was tough but the others did not have the advantage of training here,” said the Hungarian.

Michelle Parsons of Britain was second in 3'09:09 followed by Hungarian Reka Brassay in 3'11:31. It was a repeat of last year's finishing order.

Malaysia’s Mariana Mohamad, also a member of the SEA Games squad, finished fourth in 3'23:51.

Duathlon: World class field to compete

MALAYSIA’S Shahrom Abdullah, Mariana Mohamad and Kimbeley Yap will be up against a world class field in the Malakoff Powerman Malaysia 2007.

The event, to be held on Nov 11 in Seri Manjung, Perak, will see more than 560 participants, including over 200 duathletes from abroad.

The run-bike-run multi-sport event consists of a 11km run-64km bike-10km run, and offers a prize purse of RM132,000.

As duathlon will make its debut in the Korat SEA Games, duathletes from Southeast Asia will use Malakoff Powerman Malaysia 2007 to gauge their performance prior to the games.

Shahrom Abdullah, the sport’s local strongman of many years, is gearing up to contend with a field that includes International Triathlon Union Duathlon World Champion Joerie Vansteelant of Belgium, and the Philippines’ top duathlete, Ryan Mendoza.

Shahrom and Ryan are expected to slug it out for Southeast Asian supremacy, barring surprises from less fancied competitors.

“I will be training in Kuantan to get away from the constant questions on what are my medal prospects for the Sea Games. The right frame of mind is as important to winning as physical training,” Shahrom said.

World champion Joerie Vansteelant said the race route is fast, but the heat, humidity and fierce competition would be a big challenge.

Mariana Mohamad, Malaysia’s top ranked female duathlete, will be representing the country at the Sea Games with Stephanie Chok.

The 29-year-old mother of two, finished fifth in last year’s Malakoff Powerman Malaysia race and will be aiming to better her finish against an even stronger international field.

Mariana’s brother, Heidilee Mohamad, will also be part of the Sea Games squad but will be sitting out the Malakoff Powerman Malaysia due to injury.

Kimbeley Yap, triathlon gold medallist at the last Sea Games, will be competing as preparation for the Korat event.

“Although there is no swimming leg, the Powerman duathlon will be an excellent race for me to raise my running and biking speed. I need strong competition to go faster,” the final-year student at the Bukit Jalil Sports Academy said.