This pandemic has only made Lorenzo Joaquin “Enzo” Solda (DLSZ 2022) and Gene Heart Quiambao (DLSZ 2022) stronger as they brought home the first place award in the All Male and All Female Relay Category, respectively of the concluded Ironman 70.3 in Subic Bay, Olangapo, Philippines last March 6, 2022.
Enzo Solda, First Place, All Male and All Female Relay Category, Ironman 70.3 in Subic Bay, Olangapo on
March 6, 2022.
Photo credit: Mr. Ryan Siaron
Gene Quiambao, First Place, All Male and All Female Relay Category, Ironman 70.3 in Subic Bay, Olangapo on
March 6, 2022.
Photo credit: Lauren Justine Plaza
Their team, wittily called The Next Step Tri Team Pasaway, finished fifth place out of 35 teams, clocking at 5:09:54 with an average time of 5:07 min/km.
“Training during the pandemic was a really new experience. The first few months were really hard because we had to train indoors. But as time progressed and as COVID cases went down, we were able to get back to face to face training,” uttered Enzo.
Enzo Solda showing his running form.
Photo credit: Mr. Ryan Siaron
Enzo competed against 75 male while Gene went against 28 females. There are no age groups in this competition which makes Enzo and Gene’s win impressive. They have competed with triathletes of various ages from around the world.
“To be honest, the challenge wasn’t our race; it was figuring out how to cheer on everyone who was doing the full distance. I couldn’t see myself completing the 3.2k swim, 180k bike ride, and 42k run. I made it a point to cheer everyone on until they reached the finish line. The true challenge was being present for everyone who was racing,” Gene said.
Gene Quiambao running after the Swimming part of the relay.
Photo credits: Jun Mendoza of the Philippine Star
Aside from Ironman Triathlon, Enzo had participated in the National Duathlon Trials, National Triathlon Trials, Subic Bay International Triathlon. Enzo shared, “this is where they usually look for potential national team athletes who can represent the country.” On the other hand, Gene has joined the Asian Triathlon Championships in Gyeongju, Korea, Singapore Swimming Championships, National Age Group Triathlon in Subic Bay, and National Duathlon Championships in Clark, Pampanga.
Before pursuing triathlon, Enzo played basketball. His interest in triathlon started way back in 2015 when his dad brought him to one of his triathlon races. His message to those who want to pursue triathlon is, ”If you want to start triathlon, you should go ahead and do it. It has made my life so much better because I have met so many new people and friends who eventually became family to me. My teammates were always there for me in everything I do. You also learn a lot of lessons in this sport that you can use in life. It may look tiring but it actually is a lot of fun.”
Meanwhile, Gene was originally a swimmer before transferring to tri. She was first introduced to this sport by her first coach, Coach Kenneth Taylor, who made her join aquathlon races where she met Coach Ani Brown. Coach Ani recruited her to be part of the team, TheNextStepTri, where she started attending Triathlon camps. This is when she developed a bond with the sport. Gene knows how challenging Triathlon is and how much the sport requires a lot of effort and determination. “If you really want to pursue it, always make sure to be safe on the road and don’t forget to enjoy it.”
What’s next for these Lasallian triathletes? “My future goals after this is first of all probably be the best athlete I can ever be and perform at the highest level and also be able to represent the country in more races around the world,” stated Enzo.
Gene’s biggest goal is to join the Olympics. She said, “I want to be able to represent the country in International Races again.” Watch out for these athletes as they go after their goals in the future.
Enzo and Gene are both members of the Triathlon Philippine National Team.
Reference: IronMan Philippines 2022