Mancao preps up for World University Games

CNMI athlete Matthew Mancao is still in Guam, but he has been preparing for the 2011 Summer Universiade or FISU’s World University Games for the past months.

“I will return to Saipan on Aug. 4 after my classes at the University of Guam and will meet Rezne Wong and NMASA’s Mike White on Aug. 5 for our flight to Shenzhen, China,” Mancao said in an email to Saipan Tribune.

The 21-year-old CNMI athlete will be competing in the 160-kilometer cycling road race in the Summer Universiade, which will run from Aug. 11 to 23. Mancao’s event is scheduled on Aug. 12, so he has less than a week to get acclimated in Shenzhen and try the course at the Longgang Sports Center.

“Once we get ourselves settled in, it is very important for me familiarize the race course. Preparing for this event has been a struggle as I am juggling training, work, and school at the same time. Jazy Garcia has been coaching me this past few months. He has been pushing me every workout and I appreciate the time he is putting in during my training sessions. We’ve been doing motor pacing, hill intervals, sprints, distance rides, tactical race moves, explosive workouts, and core exercises,” said Mancao, who also joined a couple of Guam races and has one more coming up this week.

“I had a criterion race last week with a distance of 35 miles (15 laps). The course was flat and it had narrow sharp turns. I was in the peloton controlling the group, but after the 10thlap, I broke away from the group. I led the race for three laps and was then caught up by the chase group. I joined the lead group for our last lap and I felt good, as I was a contender in the sprint finish. However, I pulled a muscle. I tried my best to stay with the group but my muscle felt like tearing, so I finish the last lap 200m behind the lead group,” the Marianas High School student said.

Mancao ended up making it to the Top 15, as he decided to hold back to prevent further damage to his legs.

“I don’t want to get injured and not be able to train for the remaining weeks before the China tournament. Overall, my coach was impressed with my performance and this gave us something to work with in the remaining weeks. The next race course has lot of hills and I’m looking forward to this type of race,” he said.

Mancao added he must train harder for the University Games, as he is expected to face tough competitors in China.

“I am feeling a lot of pressure going into the Games this August. I was told that other countries will be sending athletes who had already participated in the youth Olympics and junior world championships. However, my coach gave me clear instructions to focus on my race and give my best effort,” the 2010 Micronesian Games bronze medalist in triathlon said.