ILAGAN City—Filipino bets bled for gold medals but not the athletes from Thailand in the Southeast Asia Youth Athletics Championships on Sunday at the City of Ilagan Sports Complex.
Ilagan City’s Hokket de los Santos topped the boys’ pole vault and Zambales’s Mariel Abuan ruled the girls’ high jump to contribute to the Philippines’s haul of three gold, six silver and seven bronze medals in the two-day championships.
But the show belonged to Thailand, which booked a 12-gold, five-silver and four-bronze tally to virtually dominate the competition that ended with only a handful of events left to be contested late afternoon on Sunday.
Nevertheless, it was an improvement for the national junior team, which came home empty-handed from last year’s games in Thailand.
De los Santos, 16, cleared listed 4.20 meters to win the gold medal over Singapore’s Elliott Wee Junn (4.10m) and Heng Jee Kuan (3.80m).
At 5-foot-11, sky was the limit for the Sta. Barbara National High School student who also plays basketball and volleyball for Cagayan Valley.
“I never expected this win because I’m a newbie in this sport,” the soft-spoken de los Santos said.
The 14-year-old Abuan of the Botolan National High School leapt 1.65 meters to top finally win gold after settling for bronze in the 4x400m race on Thursday.
Abuan grabbed the spotlight from Vietnam’s Thanh Vy Nguyen (1.61m) and Quyng Giang Pham (1.58m), who placed second and third, respectively.
“I’m very happy. I enjoyed the experience,” said Abuan, a seasoned athlete with exposures in Batang Pinoy and Palarong Pambansa. “It was challenging, but I prayed hard because I’m representing the country.”
The Filipinos copped silver medals in boys and girls 400m hurdles—Jan Rey Gallano (56.65 seconds) finished behind gold winner Marc Brian Louis of Singapore (55.55), and Charlaine de Ocampo crossed (65.22) wound up behind Thailand’s Arisa Weruwanarak (62.81).
De Ocampo also teamed up with Tara Borlain, Ranelo Gili and Jeshrelvan Ombid to take silver in 4x400m mixed relay in 3:40.47 seconds.
Tina Rosete heaved the girls’ hammer to 26.83m to finish second behind Indonesia’s Natasya Mahdalita (47.78.
Vietnam trailed Thailand in the medals race with six gold, five silver and four bronze medals, followed by Malaysia( 4-3-1). The Philippines ran fifth behind Indonesia (3-1-2).