BANGKOK – John Cabang Tolentino claimed the first gold for the Philippine Athletics team in a record-breaking fashion in the men’s 110-meter hurdles in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games at the Suphacalasai National Stadium on Friday, Dec. 12.
The Paris Olympian clocked 13.66 seconds to not only pick up another gold medal for the Philippines but also break the previous SEA Games record of 13.69sec set by Thai hurdler Jamras Rittidet in 2015.
“For me, it’s a big honor to raise the flag on the top of the podium for the Philippines. So I’m super happy,” said Tolentino.
A few minutes later, Hokett Delos Santos followed up Tolentino’s breakthrough gold with his own after topping the men’s decathlon with a total of 6,917 points.
Trailing in the standings through the first five events of the decathlon, the University of Sto. Tomas’ product surged ahead behind strong performances in pet events 110-meter hurdles, pole vault and 1,500m run.
“Yung experience ko, okay naman. Yun preparation namin kasi two months before nagkaroon ako ng strain then nagpahinga ako halos wala akong ginawa,” said Delos Santos.
His teammate in the national team, Janry Ubas, however, couldn’t keep his hold of the top spot as after leading the standing through six events fell out of the ladder at the end of the last two.
Meanwhile, SEA Games debutant Jeralyn Rodriguez claimed the bronze medal in the women’s 400 meters and punched her ticket to the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships at Hayward Field, University of Oregon.
Rodriguez posted a time of 53.40, finishing behind Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Ngoc, who struck gold, and Thailand’s Josephine Onuorah Chinenye, who earned silver.
Leonard Grospe added another bronze medal in the men’s high jump with a leap of 2.19 , also a personal best.
Grospe, who was tied with Kampton Kam of Singapore, lost the silver via countback.
Tawan Kaeodam of Thailand captured the gold medal with a 2.22.
