Mieko repeats as Tagaman champ

Mieko Carey is about to cut the tape and compete the 2016 Tagaman Triathlon held last Saturday. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Carey completed the 1.9-kilometer swim leg, 90K bike race, and 21.1 run in 4:59:56 to beat four other pros entered in her division. The 37-year-old triathlete missed breaking her 2015 time (4:48.15), but still she was the only female pro to make it to the finish line under the five-hour mark. South Korea’s Reum Jo timed in at 5:21:37 to place second and was followed by Australia’s Belinda Hadden (5:24:04), Switzerland’s Renata Bucher (5:34:03), and another South Korean bet Ha Yeon Lee (5:35:43).

Though only four stood on her way enroute to defending her women’s tiara, Carey admitted last Saturday’s event was one of the toughest she did because of the different hurdles she faced in the race.

First was the presence of two young South Koreans, who were 1-2 out of the water (women’s field). Jo completed the two-lap swim in the waters off Pacific Islands Club in 25:50, while Lee posted 25:53. Mieko clocked in at 29:43, while Hadden and Bucher submitted 30:16 and 30:18, respectively.

Next up for Mieko was the lung-busting bike leg up north where bikers were greeted by a strong head wind.

“It was very difficult, especially in Marpi and I am biking alone, getting hit by the strong wind,” said Carey, who this time was the fastest women in the bike leg at 2:42:21.

She had less than two-minute lead against Jo, who lost precious time when she took the wrong turn along the course after going up the Bird Island Lookout. Jo timed in at 3:01:15 in the bike leg, while Hadden and Bucher had faster times of 2:59:47 and 2:55:37, respectively. Lee was the last women’s pro in the bike leg after logging 3:05:34.

Carey continued to pull away as she headed south to PIC for the half marathon, but again the strong head wind coupled with the searing heat made it more difficult to complete the race

“Heading back to AMP via Beach Road was very tough. It was so hot so I just pace myself. I know I had a good lead, but I tried not to focus on it and instead just kept going and hydrated myself,” said Carey, who started celebrating even before she entered the finish line loop as she was way ahead of her competitors.

“I love doing Tagaman and it makes me really happy to win the race and see my friends on Saipan waiting for me at the finish line,” said Carey, who registered 1:49:52 in the run leg—the fastest in her field.

While Carey survived the scorching heat, two South Koreans entered in the men’s pro nearly collapsed as they reached the finish line. Gyu Seo Choi stopped running before entering the finish line loop, allowing compatriot and Tagaman returnee Kaon Cho to sprint his way to a second place finish in the men’s division. Cho completed the race in 4:50:47, nearly 10 minutes behind top overall finisher Jae Yun Won (4:41:35), also of Korea. Choi clocked in at 4:50:51, while Hwa Mok Jang rounded out the Top 4 with his 5:02:02. Jang fell to the round after cutting the tape and was later treated for heat stroke.

Bucher did not collapse at the finish line, but admitted the blistering heat was too much.

“I loved the race till the run, where I bombed. I raced the last four weekends, including traveling. My body just couldn’t handle it, specially the heat,” said Bucher, who recorded 2:08:08 in the run leg.