Christopher Ulboc
SINGAPORE—Christopher Ulboc stretched his arms skyward and got down on both knees in jubilation.
The 21-year-old from Tangub City later carried the Philippine flag on his ceremonial victory run in the men’s 3000 steeplechase of the 28th Southeast Asian Games around the colossal Singapore National Stadium.
“Lord, thank you!’’ shouted Ulboc after sprinting to the finish after the final water jump for a personal best clocking of eight minutes and 59.07 seconds.
Vietnam’s Tien San Pham, who tried to chase down the speeding Ulboc in the last 150 meters, placed second (8:59.90) and Indonesia’s Atjong Purwanto got the bronze in 9:06.41.
In men’s long jump, Henry Dagmil failed to retain his crown and placed sixth with a leap of 7.28 meters. Filipino-American Donovant Arriola placed third (7.51) in the event won by Thailand’s Supanara Sukhasvasti (7.75).
Narcisa Atienza took the bronze in women’s heptathlon of the 28th Southeast Asian Games here Friday after compiling 4,798 points in the seven-event contest.
The 2031 Burma (Myanmar) silver medalist clocked two minutes and 34.18 seconds in the final event where eventual gold medalist Sunisa Khotseemueang (5,396) and silver performer Kotchakorn Khamrueangsri (5,280) finished 1-2 for Thailand.
After topping the morning heats of the 400m, Edgardo Alejan only placed third in 47.08 seconds behind Thailand’s Kunanon Sukkaew, who set a new Games record of 46 seconds flat, and silver medalist Cong Lich Quach (46.02) of Vietnam.
Archand Christian Bagsit, the 2013 champion in the 400m, missed the cut for the finals, clocking 48.78 seconds in the qualifying heats.
Alejan and Bagsit also failed to retain the men’s 4x400m gold two years ago on Philippine turf with Joan Caido and Ryan Bigyan the other day.
The Thais, anchored by Sukkaew, won the race in photo finish with Bagsit.
Filipino-American Eric Cray, who prevailed in the men’s 100m and 400m hurdles, was supposed to join the relay team but pulled out after he felt a stinging sensation in his hamstrings.
Meanwhile, the supplier of Cray’s uniform that bore an inverted Philippine flag has apologized for the boo-boo that went viral in the social media.
Clarence Fajardo, owner of World Champion Trading, designed and manufactured the 16 pieces of uniforms for Filipino track and field athletes that had the Philippine flag upside-down.
“I would like to ask you to accept our deepest apologies for the mistake that we made in the printing of the Philippine flag on some of the uniforms we delivered,’’ said Fajardo in a letter of apology addressed to Philip Ella Juico, president of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association.
“This mistake was solely our fault and was clearly caused by human error on our part. It was not our intention to create such an awkward situation for the team and for you,’’ he added.