Unable to compete in the last Singapore Open, Clinton Kingsley Bautista made the most of his last tuneup before the in sweeping both of his events at the Philippine Athletics Championships at the Philsports track oval on Thursday.
An Apprentice Seaman in the Philippine Navy, Bautista ruled his pet event, the men’s 110-meter hurdles, in 14.36 seconds and had much left to spare 40 minutes later in topping the 200-meter run in 21.91 seconds.
The 29-year-old pride of Camiling, Tarlac emerged as the first double gold medalist in the two-day meet organized by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.
“Given the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, our hosting of the Philippine Athletic Championships is our last effort to prime our athletes for the Vietnam SEA Games,” Patafa president Philip Ella Juico said of the event that drew 482 athletes from all over the country.
“Maganda sana makapag-compete sa Singapore Open para maibaba ko pa ‘yong time ko, pero ganu’n lang po talaga. Kaya pinaigi ko ang takbo dito since huling laro namin before the SEA Games kaya dapat pag-igihan,” said Bautista, who only had a 40-minute break in-between events.
He will be out to defend his men’s 110-meter hurdles title in the Vietnam SEAG athletic competitions unfold on May 14 at the My Dinh National Stadium in the capital of Hanoi.
Not to content with accomplishments in the morning, the athlete was eyeing his third gold in the afternoon in the trackfest also backed by Iligan City, G-Shock Casio, Chips Delight and Lily’s Peanut Butter.
Remaining in the country after competing in the last Singapore Open, 2019 SEA Games gold medalist Fil-Am Willie Morrison III also made his mark in hurling 49.97 meters in topping the men’s discus throw.
“I like it here, especially in Baguio where I’ve been training because it’s pretty cool over there,” said Morrison, who has been training in the Pines City for a week before coming down for the meet.
The reigning men’s SEA Games shot put king will hope to add another gold today in his favorite event in the competition also supported by GuanaPro-C, Cellife Cellular Nutrition, @Tokyo, Masiv Sports, Gatorate, Summit Mineral Water, and Pencer Q.
SEAG-bound Edwin Giron and Bernalyn Bejoy swept the men’s 800-meter runs in times of 1:53.75 and 2:12.66, respectively.
Melissa Escoton ruled the women’s 110-meter hurdle (14.05) while Jessel Lumapas the women’s 200-meter dash (24.92).
Now coach and four-time SEA Games champion Arniel Ferrera, representing Baguio City showed the young Turks that he still had what it takes in topping the men’s hammer throw with a heave of 49.97 meters.
