The Philippines has captured three gold, six silver and one bronze medals in the ongoing Thailand Open Track and Field Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Samkhog district, Pathumthani province.
The three gold medals came from John Albert Mantua (shot put), Mariano Masano (800-m) and Alfrence Braza (1,500-m).
After failing to bring home a medal three years ago, the 5-foot-10 Mantua delivered a golden performance of 16.24 meters in the men’s shot put event.
“Nanghihinayang po ako kasi hindi ko nakuha ung target ko na bato pero nagpapasalamat pa rin po ako kasi nakuha ko nman po ang gintong medalya (I regret not being able to achieve my target throw but I am thankful because I got the gold medal),” the 29-year-old Mantua said in an interview on Wednesday.
Mantua, who hails from General Santos City, registered a personal best of 17.33 meters during the Singapore Open last April 16. He sustained an injury while competing in the Vietnam SEA Games last May.
Braza ruled the men’s 1,500-meter event in 4:03.79, beating compatriot Masano (4:06.53).
But Masano bounced back in the 800-meter event, winning the gold medal in 1:54.07 to beat Hong Kong’s Lok Yin Chu (1:54.67).
In the men’s high jump event, Leonard Grospe submitted 2.16 meters to claim the silver medal. Chao-Hsuan Fu of Chinese Taipei bagged the gold medal.
Janry Ubas claimed the silver medal in the men’s long jump with a leap of 7.72 meters. Ho Long Ko of Hong Kong secured the gold medal with 7.87 meters while Tien Trong Nguyen of Vietnam bagged the bronze medal with 7.53 meters.
In the men’s 400-meter event, Michael Carlo del Prado pocketed the silver medal in 48.26, Edgardo Alejan Jr. was fourth (48.67) while Jayme Sequita did not finish the race.
In the women’s long jump event, Katherine Khay Santos posted 5.98 meters to finish second behind Nga Yan Yue of Hong Kong (6.30).
Joida Gagnao settled for the silver medal in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase event with a time of 11:16.19. Dian Ekayanti of Indonesia (11;08.30) won the gold medal while Mnin Yu Soe of Myanmar (11:40.11) took the bronze medal.
Francis Medina had the third-best time of 53.00 in the men’s 400-meter hurdles event won by Halomoan Edwin Binsar of Indonesia (50.95).
Eloiza Luzon was fourth in the women’s 400-meter event (57.52) and fifth in the 200-meter event (25.57). Sarah Dequinan and Josefa Ligmayo placed sixth with 1.65 meters in the women’s high jump dominated by Wai Yan Phoebe Chung of Hong Kong (1.78). (PNA)
