SEA Games: After pole vault win, PH also captures women’s heptathlon gold

Sarah Noveno Dequinan wins gold in women’s heptathlon of the 30th Southeast Asian Games. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

NEW CLARK CITY — Natalie Uy and Sarah Dequinan lit up the evening for Team Philippines Sunday.

They both brought in the golds in events the Philippine has not won in a long time.

Uy set the new gold standard in winning the women’s pole vault, while Dequinan proved to be the toughest woman after capturing the women’s heptathlon gold.

Dequinan, 23, accumulated 5,101 points to win the gold, besting Malaysia’s Norliyana Kamaruddin (4,906) and Thailand’s Sunisa Khootseemueang (4,730).

The last time the Philippines won gold in heptathlon was in 2001 when the legendary Elma Muros-Posadas ruled the Kuala Lumpur edition.

“It was great winning the gold for the Philippines,” said Uy who is set to compete in the Asian indoor championships next year.