PH Wins 3 Golds in 14th Sea Youth Athletics Championships

Host Philippines brought home three gold, seven silver, and nine bronze medals during the recently concluded 14th South East Asia (SEA) Youth Athletics Championships held in this city on March 2-3.

Pole vaulter Ma. Khrizzie Clarrise Ruzol recorded the Philippines’ first gold medal.

The country bagged its second gold medal in Day 2 of the championships, courtesy of Mariel Abuan, who ruled the Girls High Jump event. Abuan has amassed one gold and one bronze medal, which she got in the 4x400m relay.

City of Ilagan’s very own Hokket delos Santos bagged the Philippines’ third gold in Pole Vault. (PIA-2 photo)

City of Ilagan’s very own Hokket delos Santos bagged the Philippines’ third gold. The 17-year old basketball and volleyball player turned pole vaulter, shrugged off a spiked shoe malfunction which he encountered during the competition, to display an inspiring performance in front of his hometown crowd.

Delos Santos, a SEA Youth debutant cleared the bar at 4.20m, his new personal best in the sport he just took up a year ago.

Sixteen-year old Cebuana runner Princes Jean Nalzaro clocked 15.61 seconds to clinch the Silver medal in the Girls 100m hurdle.

Other Filipino athletes who snatched silver medals were: Charlaine De Ocampo (Girls 400m hurdles) ; Jan Rey Gallano (Boys 400m hurdles) ; Daniel Noel Rambacal (Boys Hammer Throw); and Ranelo Gil, Charlaine De Ocampo, Jeshrelvan Ombid, and Tara Borlain (Mixed 4x400m).

For bronze: Diana Rysiamie Hurano (Girls Triple Jump); Jason Jabol , Albert Jose Villaces, Ranelo Gili, and MJ Jaminillo (Boys 4×100 Relay); Patrick Shane Tolentino (boys high jump); Jeshrelvan Ombid (boys’ 800-meter); and Michael Alfred Adan (boys’ 2000-meter steeplechase).

National athlete Tara Borlain succumbed to the foreigners’ domination, finishing just third in her specialty event, the girls’ 800-meter run.

This is the second time for the Philippines and the “Corn Capital” to host the annual SEA Youth, having staged it before in 2017.

The SEA Youth will also serve as a prelude to the 2019 Philippine National Open Athletics Championships slated later from March 6-8.

In the final tally, Thailand emerged victorious with 16-8-4 medal standing followed by Vietnam and Malaysia with 7-9-10 and 4-4-2 medal standing, respectively. (MDCT/PIA 2-Cagayan)