Ilagan, Isabela- University of the Philippines standout Edwin Giron on Saturday surpassed the gold medal standard of the Southeast Asian Games for the second time this year in the ICTSI-Philippine Athletics Championships at the City of Ilagan Sports Complex here.
The 23-year-old Giron finished the men’s 800-meter heats in one minute, and 51.83 seconds, with his effort surpassing the clocking of Singaporean Joshua Atkinson (1:55.75) in last year’s biennial meet.
This kept Giron, along with Philippine Air Force bet Sonny Wagdos, in contention for a spot in the national team being assembled for the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia.
Unfortunately, Giron missed the finals as he needed to go back to Manila to rest and study for his exams at UP-Diliman and contented himself to eclipsing the SEAG standard that could net him a slot in the national squad.
During the trials last month, Giron was just a tick slower at 1:52.50, and got the attention of national coach Jojo Posadas.
“Hindi na siya magpa-finals. Umuwi na dahil sa exam, at sa studies niya,” said Posadas.
La Union’s Frederick Ramirez also stayed in contention for a seat in the national team, after trailing at second with a time of 1:54.89, and followed at third by Malaysian Wan Muhamad Wan Zahari at 1:55.81.
Wagdos ruled the men’s 5000-meter run in 14 minutes, and 56.98 seconds, with Armyman Richard Salano trailing him in 14:57.11.
Both Wagdos and Salano went below the 32nd SEA Games gold medal time of Vietnamese Nguyen Van Lai(16:34.1).
The outstanding gold medal finishes of Giron and Wagdos came as Tokyo Olympics veteran Kristina Knott came back from an 11-month layoff due to injury, showing her fine form after she topped the women’s 100-meter heats in 11.85 seconds.
But Knott won’t be going up against an injured defending SEA Games century dash champion Kayla Richardson in the finals, after she hurt her right quads during the qualifying round, and finished sixth in 16.46 seconds.
Malaysia’s Olympic veteran Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli is challenging her (Knott) for a podium after she ended up in second in 11.90 seconds.
“I’m excited for and grateful for being healthy,” said Knott, who just recovered from a plantar fascia injury on her left foot.
A day earlier, Misamis Oriental standout Janry Ubas cleared a height of 7.84 meters in the men’s long jump event and also surpassed the SEA Games gold medal standard.
The 29-year-old Ubas, who skipped the decathlon meet where he was a bronze medal winner in the SEA Games last year, said he feels confident and ready that he will do better in Cambodia next month.
“Tight ang likod dahil sa pagbiyahe. Pero, iyung ginawa ay pang podium na iyun,” remarked Ubas, who bucked a sore back and the hot summer weather, and as he surpassed the SEA Games gold medal mark of 7.8 meters.
Ubas skipped the decathlon meet in the weeklong Philippine championships after setting two new national records when he won a bronze medal last month while competing in the heptathlon competitions of the 10th Asian Indoor Athletics meet in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Fil-American Natalie Uy pulled an upset on 2022 SEA Games bronze medallist Alyanna Nicolas after she cleared 3.85 meters in the women’s pole vault.
Nicolas, who fell out of rhythm after Uy made adjustments on the uprights (beam supports), settled for the silver medal at 3.7 meters.
Ateneo standout Jiamari Kawachi claimed the bronze after edging veteran Riezel Buenaventura on the countback with 3.30m.
“It’s the first competition in three months. I opened my season a month ago. It was tough,” remarked the 29-year-old Uy, a graduate of Eastern Michigan University.
Another Fil-heritage trackster, Lauren Hoffman, stunned Robyn Brown as they pulled of a 1-2 finish in the women’s 400-meter hurdles, after crossing the finish line 57.56 seconds and 57.87 seconds.foto 1.. Edwin Giron, foto 2 Janry Ubas/// foto 3 Natalie Uy