Knott, Obiena set new
track and field records
Kristina Knott and Ernest John Obiena both set new records at the ongoing Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) track and field events. Knott won gold with a time of 23.01 seconds in the women’s 200-meters and set a new national record after beating the 23.32 seconds set by Zion Corrales-Nelson earlier this year. She also beat the previous SEA Games record of 23.3 seconds, which was set in 2001 by Thailand’s Supavadee Khawpeag.
Meanwhile, Obiena won gold in the men’s pole vault event, finishing at 5.45 meters, beating the SEA Games record of 5.35 meters, which was set in 2017 by Thai athlete Porranot Purahong.
In the martial arts, the Philippines earned medals in taekwondo in the poomsae events, which are comprised of basic attack and defense motions associated with the martial art. Dustin Mella, Raphael Mella, and Rodolfo Reyes, Jr. retained their gold medals in the team event, Reyes also won gold in the men’s recognized event, Jocel Lyn Ninobla won the women’s recognized poomsae, and Jeordan Dominguez netted gold in the men’s individual freestyle.
In addition, medals were also earned in karate with Junna Tsukii taking gold in women’s kumite and Norman Montalvo capturing silver in men’s kumite.
In other events, Filipino surfer Roger Casugay won a gold medal in long board, while Nilbie Blancada ruled women’s shortboard; the Philippines won their tenth consecutive gold medal in softball, as the boy’s team won silver; Chezka Centeno won gold in billiards, taking the women’s 10-ball event; Margielyn Didal and Christiana Means each won gold in skateboarding; Noelle Manalac won the women’s soft tennis event and teamed up her sister Bambi Zoleta for the doubles gold, Princess Catindig and Edrilyn Peralta took bronze; Melcah Caballero captured her second gold medal in rowing after ruling the lightweight women’s sculls; Jhondi Wallace and Susan Larsson each won gold in wakeboarding; Lester Tayong and Emerson Villena ruled men’s sailing; tennis players Francis Casey Alcantara and Jeson Patrombon nabbed the gold medal in men’s doubles after defeating fellow Filipino pair Ruben Gonzales and Treat Huey; while Hanniel Abella, Anna Gabriella Estimada, and Harlene Raguin nabbed gold in fencing winning the women’s team épée; Hermie Macaranas nabbed a gold medal in the individual canoe event before teaming up with Ojay Fuentes to take silver in the men’s doubles event; Daniela Dela Pisa medaled in rhythmic gymnastics winning gold in hoops and bronze medals in clubs and balls; and Jemyca Aribado, Reymark Begornia, Robert Andrew Garcia, and William David delivered a gold medal in squash, winning the mixed team event./ASC, WDJ
