FILE–Obstacle Course Racing bet Mervin Guarte during the 2019 SEA Games. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES
PHNOM PENH—From a decorated middle-distance runner in the Southeast Asian Games, Mervin Guarte has found a home in obstacle course racing.
Guarte’s skills as an 800m and 1500m specialist on the track netted him not a few silver medals in these events since the 2011 SEA Games in Jakarta, but the gifted racer from Calapan, Mindoro never earned a gold.
“I’ve been reaping the benefits of my transfer (from track and field to obstacle racing). This is now my home,’’ said Guarte, who is wearing the national colors in the 11-nation biennial meet for the seventh consecutive time.
He wasn’t as lucky in the first five SEA Games that he had been to, mostly winding up with a pair of silvers in his specialty before shifting to obstacle racing in 2019 where Guarte finally captured his first gold medal.
“It was an entirely different experience. Here, I was able to get all the support that I needed from my teammates, coaching staff up to the officials,’’ said Guarte, winner of the obstacle race men’s 5 km event back in 2019 Manila.
The Philippine Obstacle Sports Federation headed by Atty. Al Agra swept all the six gold medals back then and with the full backing of the Philippine Sports Commission, the national obstacle racing team seems headed toward that direction once more.
Precious Cabuya and Kaizen Dela Serna will figure in the all-Filipino women’s individual finals on Saturday as well as Mark Julius Rodelas and Kevin Pascua in the men’s side, assuring the Philippines of two gold medals and a pair of silvers.
Emerging victorious in the men’s and women’s relays later on will allow Team Philippines to sweep all four golds offered.
Philippines’ relay teams in the Obstacle Challenge Race in the 32nd SEA Games. -PSC PHOTO
Guarte is the anchor of the men’s relay team composed of Elias Tabac, JR De Castro and Ahgie Radan.
They placed second in the 100m qualifying race behind Malaysia after clocking 25.86 seconds on Thursday at the Chroy Changvar Car Park here.
The Malaysians topped the race in 25.62 seconds and Indonesia placed third in 25.87 seconds.
“Getting off properly at the starting line is crucial as well as the neat transition for every runner for us to accomplish the task,’’ said Guarte.
The quartet of Sandi Abahan, Maritess Nocyao, Mhick Tejares and Mecca Cortizano checked in nearly five seconds slower (40.17 seconds) than the Indonesians in the women’s relay. Indonesia clocked 35.04 and third-placer Malaysia arrived after 48.24 seconds.
“We’ll be ready for the finals come Sunday. We’ve been training for this in the last six months. We have an obstacle course back home and it proved to be an advantage,’’ said Guarte.