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PH sweeps 3 golds in SEA Games pentathlon test events

October 10, 2019, 2:51 pm

SUBIC BAY -- Team Philippines, composed of student-athletes from Ormoc City, swept all three gold medals at stake on Wednesday at the opening of the 30th Southeast Asian Games modern pentathlon test event at the Boardwalk here.

Princess Abilon, 17, bagged two gold medals in the women’s individual and mixed relay events at the expense of opponents from Thailand.

“I just stayed focused,” said Abilon, a student at the Ormoc City Regional Sports Academy.

In completing the laser-run event, which alternates four legs of a four-target, laser pistol shooting followed and an 800m run done four times, Abilon finished the women's individual course in 12 minutes and 3.9 seconds.

Abilon bested Ivy Dino, who settled for the silver medal in 13:11.87, and Shira Mae Aranzado, who bagged bronze with 13:17.35.

With teammate Samuel German, they ruled the mixed relay in 10:39.85, with the duo of Dinoy and Michael Comaling placing second in 11:07.66.

Comaling, who is on his second international stint, topped the men's individual event to finish with a gold and silver.

The 19-year-old Comaling clocked 10:11.59, some 27 minutes ahead of second place Alne Tonada.

Thai bet Loorjin Wichapon fought it out with Filipino rivals in the men's division and finished fifth.

National coach Rex de la Cruz said the final day of the event Thursday will be tougher, with participants doing a 200-meter swim and laser shoot course.

“This was a timed race, and no points were given because there were not that many events held. My athletes wanted to size their rivals from Thailand. So they took things cautiously today,” de la Cruz said.

Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez, who heads the Philippine Modern Pentathlon Association, said pentathlon will be staged in the country for the first time as an event of the 30th SEA Games.

Gomez was the one who asked sports leaders from the Southeast Asian region for its inclusion following its successful staging at the Asian level. (PR)

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