STUNNING WIN. Filipino-Spanish John Cabang (center) defeated reigning SEA Games champion Clinton Kingsley Bautista (right) in the men's Open 110m Hurdles final during the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships at the Ilagan City Sports Complex on March 22, 2023. Malaysian Shareem Aleimran Abdul Raheem (left) placed third. (Photo courtesy of PATAFA)
ILAGAN CITY, Isabela – Three Fil-foreigners triumphed in their respective events in the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships at the Ilagan City Sports Complex here on Wednesday.
John Cabang, who was born of Filipino parents in Spain, clocked 14.35 seconds to beat reigning SEA Games champion Clinton Kingsley Bautista in the men's open 110-meter hurdles.
Bautista, an enlisted personnel in the Philippine Navy, registered 14.40 seconds to take the silver medal while Malaysian Shareem Aleimran Abdul Raheem got the bronze medal in 14.47.
"I was expecting Clinton to fight for the position," said the 5-foot-9 Cabang, whose parents are from Baguio City.
Cabang won the gold medal during the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) Weekly Relay Series in November 2022 and competed at the Asian Indoor Championships in Kazakhstan last February but finished 10th in the qualifying.
Vietnamese Huynh Thi My Tien also had a successful campaign in the women's open 110m hurdles where she submitted the best time of 13.59.
Filipino-American Lauren Hoffman of San Jose Track Club finished second (13.72) followed by 2022 SEA Games champion Bui Thi Nguyen of Vietnam (13.83).
The top three finishers in the men's open 400m were Fil-American Umajesty Williams (47.15), Frederick Ramirez of La Union (47.40) and Michael Carlo Del Prado of City of Ilagan-National Team (47.41).
Fil-American Angel Frank topped the women's open 400m event in 53.69 seconds. Danse Manibog finished second in 54.73 while Danae Hoang Thi Minh clocked 54.94 to secure the bronze medal.
University of the Philippines bets Sally Campus (31:16:04) and Juliana Talaro (31:30:75) had a 1-2 finish in the 5,000m walk event. Alana Julianne Halagueña of Pasig Team was third (31:33:30).
The other gold medalists on the first day of the tournament organized by PATAFA were Methawi Kanhaaudom of Thailand (men's 400m), Harvey Villasan of University of Santo Tomas (110m Hurdles), Zoilo Reyes Jr. of the Philippine Academy of Sakya (men's javelin throw) and Karenmae Pelegria (women's 400m) in the Under-20 category; Dexter James Angayangay of Pasig Team (boys' 110m Hurdles), PJ Iringan (boys' 400m) and Diana Rose Bunagan (girls' high jump) of NPAA-Tuguegarao City, Ma. Emely Balunan of Bohol Province Track and Field Track (girls' 400m), Joseph Stephan Bayya of City of Tacurong (boys' shot put) and Caitriona Danelle Vasquez of Province of Leyte (girls' 100m Hurdles) in the Under-18 category. (PNA)
