SEA Games: Guarte, Abahan complete PH sweep of obstacle course racing

Mervin Guarte wins gold in Obstacle Course Race men’s individual 5km x 20 event of 30th SEA Games at Filinvest, Alabang. INQUIRER photo / Richard A. Reyes

MANILA, Philippines–Mervin Guarte and Sandi Abahan completed a six-gold sweep of the Obstacle Course Racing events for the Philippines by ruling the 5Kx20 obstacle races in the 30th Southeast Asian Games Friday in Filinvest Alabang.

The 29-year-old Guarte, who shifted from OCR after he was dropped from the national athletics team, captured the men’s individual gold by clocking 25 minutes and 31 seconds.

Sandi Abahan wins gold for women’s Obstacle Course Racing Individual 5k x 20 event of 30th SEA Games at Filinvest, Alabang. INQUIRER PHOTO / Richard A. Reyes

Sherwin Managil made it a 1-2 finish for the Philippines, taking the silver in 26:16, while Saddam Mohd Pittli of Malaysia clocked 28:02 for the bronze.

Abahan, a special education teacher based in Baguio City, blitzed through the course, finishing in 33:30, while teammate Merisco Glorien bagged the silver in 40:00. Laos’ Sorvimane Khamla checked in at 55:27 for the bronze.

Kevin Pascua and Rochelle Suarez earlier took the gold in their respective divisions in the 100mx10 obstacle.

SEA Games: Philippines bags 4 gold medals in obstacle course