CHAMPION. Long jumper Janry Ubas (left) with coach Dario de Rosas during the awarding ceremony of the 16th Triveneto Meeting Internationale in Trieste, Italy on Saturday (July 22, 2023). The win boosted his chances of qualifying for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary next month. (Contributed photo)
MANILA – Southeast Asian (SEA) Games long jump champion Janry Ubas kept his winning form on Saturday, dominating the 16th Triveneto Meeting Internationale in Italy to boost his chances of qualifying for the World Athletics Championships.
The 29-year-old native of Villanueva, Misamis Oriental province registered 7.72 meters to beat Cuban Lester Alcides Lescay Gay at the G. Draghicchio Athletics Stadium in Trieste.
Lescay Gay, the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics gold medalist, registered 7.71m, followed by Botswanian Thapelo Monaiwa (7.54m).
On Wednesday, Ubas ruled the Motonet Grand Prix in Lappeenranta, Finland in 7.86m. His gold-winning performance in the Cambodia SEA Games in May was 7.85m.
Ubas flew straight to Finland from Thailand after competing at the 25th Asian Athletics Championships held in Bangkok from July 12 to 16. He landed in the top 7 with 7.98m, improving on the 7.95m he posted in bagging the silver medal at the Taiwan Open on May 28.
From Italy, he will proceed to Germany for the International Stuttgarter Athletics Meeting on July 29.
The tournaments in Finland, Italy and Germany are part of the World Athletics Continental Tour which would decide the fate of Ubas qualifying for the World Championships slated Aug. 19 to 27 in Budapest, Hungary.
The qualification window for the World Championships ends July 30.
Following his two victories, Ubas is expected to climb up the World Athletics rankings, which will be updated on July 25.
He is currently at No. 53. The top 36 get to compete in Budapest.
EJ Obiena (pole vault) and Robyn Brown (hurdles) have already earned World Championships berths. (PNA)
