KUALA LUMPUR -- Filipino-American Eric Shauwn Cray successfully defended his crown Tuesday evening in the men’s 400-meter hurdles in athletics event, bringing the Philippines' total gold output to eight in the 29th Southeast Asian Games.
Cray, who clocked 50.03 seconds, actually gave Team Philippines its fifth gold output of the day (as of 8:52 p.m.) in a nerve-wracking photo finish at the ultra-modern National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
The Fil-American runner holds the record at 49.40 seconds that he posted in the 2015 edition of the games held in Singapore.
Cray, however, failed to defend the title in the 100-meter dash last night.
Malaysia's Khairul Jantan clocked 10.38 seconds and won gold for the event, while Cray settled for a silver finish with a time of 10.43.
As of Tuesday evening, the Philippines' medal count is 8 golds, 11 silvers, and 12 bronzes.
Earlier, gymnasts Kaitlin Cera Lianne De Guzman, Reyland Yuson Capellan, fencer Louie Wayne Brennan and wushu artist Agatha Chrystenzen Wong ruled their respective events.
De Guzman showed mastery in the uneven bars competition (12.875) of the women artistic gymnastics while Capellan demonstrated impeccable grace under pressure for the big win in floor exercise of the men artistic gymnastics event held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibit Center (MITEC).
Brennan proved superior among his competitors as he bagged the gold in men’s foil individual by beating compatriot Nathaniel Perez who settled for the silver. Wong showed precision and style as she topped the women’s Taijijian (wushu).
Fencers Hannel Abella and Harlene Raquin also sparkled and captured the silver and bronze medal, respectively in the women’s epee individual.
“They really worked hard to get that gold. I hope the other sports will get their gold medals,” said Cynthia Carreon, head of the Philippine delegation who is also the president of the local gymnastics federation.
Other medalists on Tuesday are Jason Ramil Macaalay and Rexor Tacay who each captured a silver in the male kumite below 60 kg and male kumite below 67kg in karate. Fil-Am James Orencio settled for the bronze in kata, also a karate event.
In boxing, bantamweight Mario Fernandez, middleweight Eumir Felix Marcial and light heavyweight Marvin John Nobel Tupas, were assured of silver medals after they defeated their respective opponents in separate semifinal bouts.
Fernandez and Tupas scored similar 5-0 wins against their respective foes to gain a seat in the finals. Marcial also marched to the finals by beating Malaysia’s Indran Al Rama Krishnan via Referee Stopped Contest (RSC-1).
However, Olympian Charly Suarez and Ian Clark Bautista failed to make it into the finals when they bowed to their respective opponents in the welterweight and flyweight battles, respectively. (PNA)
