VETERAN long jumper Janry Ubas once again proved why he remains one of the Philippines’ most dependable track and field athletes, spearheading the country’s medal haul at the XXXIV Qosanov Memorial in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Competing against a strong international field, the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games champion soared to a distance of 7.53 meters, clinching the silver medal in the men’s long jump. Ubas finished just behind India’s Sreeshankar, who took gold with 7.94 meters, while Azerbaijan’s Nazim Babayev settled for bronze at 7.48 meters.
For Ubas, the podium finish reinforces his status as a cornerstone of Philippine athletics, showcasing his consistency on the global stage and his determination to push beyond regional dominance. His performance also set the tone for the national team, inspiring fellow Filipino athletes to deliver solid results throughout the competition.
The Philippines ended the tournament with a total of five medals. Hussein Loraña secured a silver medal in the men’s 800 meters after clocking 1:52.69, just behind Iran’s Ali Amirian, who crossed the finish line in 1:52.09. Bernalyn Bejoy, a five-time national champion, added another silver in the women’s 800 meters with a time of 2:12.27, narrowly missing the gold to Uzbekistan’s Irina Levina, who posted 2:12.07.
In the relay events, the men’s 4x100m team composed of Kharis Pantonial, Anfernee Lopena, Clinton Bautista, and Ronne Malipay managed a third-place finish with 41.06 seconds. The mixed 4x400m relay squad, made up of Pantonial, Bejoy, Susan Ramadan, and Loraña, capped the country’s campaign with another bronze medal, clocking 3:29.92.
The Philippine team aims to build momentum ahead of upcoming major international competitions, including the Asian Games and future World Athletics events.
