MANILA, Philippines–Student-athletes from Ormoc City showed promise in modern pentathlon after sweeping all three golds in a test event for the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the boardwalk of Subic Bay.
Princess Honey Arbilon seized two gold medals when the 17-year-old ruled the women’s individual beach laser run and formed a formidable tandem with Samuel German in the mixed relay beach laser run.
Performing in his second international race, Michael Comaling topped the men’s individual beach laser run in 10 minutes and 11.59 seconds, beating Lookjon Witchakon of Thailand and Alme Tanada, who also hails from Ormoc.
Arbilon completed the laser-run course, which alternates four legs each of a four-target, laser pistol shooting with an 800m run, in 12 minutes and 3.9 seconds to defeat Thailand’s Jantanach Busakorn and Ormoc City’s Ivy Dino.
“I prepared well for this race and just stayed focused throughout,’’ said Arbilon from the Ormoc City Regional Sports Academy.
Ormoc City mayor Richard Gomez heads the Philippine Modern Pentathlon Association and has formed a pool of pentathletes coming from the academy.
Joining forces with German, Arbilon clinched her second gold with their combined 10:39.85 clocking in the mixed relay in a narrow victory over Busakorn and Witchapon.
National coach Rex dela Cruz said up next for the Pinoy pentathletes is an event that alternates a 200-meter swim with a laser shoot course.