MANILA – The Philippine track and field team comprising 61 athletes had a successful campaign at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, collecting 31 medals at the Suphachalasai National Stadium in Thailand.
The Filipinos bagged five gold medals, including one from pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena on the final day of the athletics competition Wednesday night, along with seven silvers and 19 bronzes.
The former World No. 2 captured his fourth straight gold medal, beating Thailand’s Amsamarng Patsapong with a new meet record of 5.70 meters. Both cleared this height, surpassing the previous SEAG record by 5 centimeters but Obiena made it on the first attempt, while Patsapong needed three attempts.
“I’m happy, but that was a little bit too close for comfort. I came here to win, and that’s exactly what I did. I love to see that the level is getting higher… and at the same time, I have a job to do,” said Obiena, who set a personal best of 6.00 meters at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. He is currently No. 5 in the World Athletics rankings.
Elijah Kevin Cole also made the podium, pocketing the bronze medal with a jump of 5.20 meters.
PATAFA secretary-general Jasper Tanhueco praised the team’s performance.
“We win some, we lose some, but we definitely learn from it. We have many rising stars, and the future of Philippine athletics looks promising,” he said.
The other gold medal winners were hurdler John Christopher Cabang, decathlete Hokett Delos Santos, and middle-distance runners Hussein Loraña and Naomi Marjorie Cesar.
“I’m super happy to raise the flag on the top of the podium for the Philippines. This victory means a lot to me, especially after my bronze medal finish in Cambodia,” said Cabang, who won the men’s 110m hurdles with a new meet record of 13.66 seconds. He surpassed the 13.69 seconds set by Thailand’s Jamras Rittidet in 2015.
Delos Santos, a University of Santo Tomas standout, tallied 6,917 points over 10 events to rule the men’s decathlon.
Thailand’s Singkhon Suttisak (6,649 points) and Indonesia’s Richsan Idan Fauzan (6,582 points) placed second and third, respectively.
Loraña and Cesar dominated the 800-meter events.
“Our president, Mr. Terry Capistrano, is dedicated to providing the resources necessary for our athletes to excel,” said Tanhueco.
Boosted by steadfast support from ICTSI through funding for their training and overseas campaigns, the future looks bright for the next generation of Filipino athletes.
Overall, the Philippines ranked fourth in the medal standings, behind Thailand (13-13-4), Vietnam (12-12-11), Indonesia (9-5-7) and Malaysia (5-4-6).
The Philippines won four golds, 10 silvers and eight bronzes in Cambodia (2023). In the 2021 edition held in Vietnam, the medal tally was 5-7-14.
The Philippines had an impressive 11-8-8 medal tally when it hosted the 2019 SEAG. (PNA)
