Takeshi Igarashi, the winner of the 2^nd Pacific Islands Triathlon Championship

Takeshi Igarashi, of the Friendly Islands Triathlon (FIT) won the 2^nd Pacific Islands Triathlon Championship, held at the National Sailing Centre, Suva, Fiji on Saturday, December 8.

Takeshi won the Olympic distance triathlon in 2hr 28min 1sec, after completing a 1.5km swim, a 40km cycle and a 10km run. In second place was Isireli Naikelekelevesi with a time of 2hr 33min 40sec, and in third place was another FIT triathlete, Kantaro Oishi, with a time of 2hr 37min 41sec. In fourth place was Petero Manoa with a time of 2hr 39min 40 sec.

Tonga entered three triathletes in the Olympic distance category, but 'Alo Fe'iloakitau pulled a hamstring in his final lap of the 10km run, and decided to call it a day.

Takeshi has been a cyclist for a few years, but took up the sport of triathlon only four months ago when he migrated to Tonga from Japan. He is looking forward to defending his title in Papua New Guinea next year.

In the team category of the Triathlon Olympic Distance, FIT entered a two-members team, Pesi Fonua, as swimmer and cyclist, and Lady Robyn Kaho, as runner.

On the scoreboard the FIT team won with a time of 2hr 17min 57sec, and in second place was a Nadi Cycling team of Petero Manoa, Tafazul Gani and Ninesh Kumar with a time of 2hr 56min 35sec; but during the prize giving, the winner of the team category was announced as the Nadi Cycling team.