Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 19) – Marathon runner Christine Hallasgo formally closed the campaign of the Philippine athletics team in the #SEAGames31 by winning a silver medal on Thursday in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Hallasgo was set to defend her throne in the women’s marathon event after leading the pack throughout the race, but she was slowed down with cramps in the final laps to settle for a runner-up finish at the My Dinh National Stadium.
The pride of Malaybalay, Bukidnon clocked in with a time of two hours and 56 minutes, behind gold medalist Odekta Naibaho Elvina of Indonesia with two hours and 55 minutes. Hometown bet Ngoc Hoa Hoang Thi bagged the bronze medal with two hours and 57 minutes.
The Philippines finished third in the overall medal table in athletics with five gold, seven silver, and 14 bronze medals.
World No. 6 pole vaulter EJ Obiena, Southeast Asia’s fastest woman Kayla Richardson, five-peat 400-meter hurdles king Eric Cray, back-to-back SEAG men’s shot put champion William Morrison III, and two-time 110-meter hurdles winner Clinton Bautista are the country’s gold medalists in the 31st SEA Games athletics competitions.
“This version of the SEA Games is by far the most challenging because of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. But with one SEAG record, five new Philippine national records recorded, and eight personal records established, this can be considered as a very successful campaign for PATAFA national athletes,” said Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association head coach Joeffrey Chua.
The country’s other silver medalists are Kyla Richardson (women’s 200-meter dash), Hokett delos Santos (men’s pole vault), Janry Ubas (men’s long jump), Aries Toledo (men’s decathlon), Sarah Dequinan (women’s heptahlon), and Harry Diones (men’s triple jump).
The bronze medal winners are Kayla Richardson (women’s 200-meter dash), Joida Gagnao (women’s 5000-meter and 3000-meter steeplechase), Alfrence Braza (men’s 1500-meter run), Melvin Calano (men’s javelin throw), Sonny Wagdos (men’s 5000-meter run), Ubas (men’s decathlon), Bernalyn Bejoy, Jessel Lumapas, Edgardo Alejan, Jr. and Joyme Sequita (4×400 mixed relay), Jelly Paragile (women’s 100-meter hurdles), Alyana Nicolas (pole vault), Robyn Brown (women’s 400-meter hurdles), Morrison (men’s discus throw), Evalyn Palbrica (women’s javelin throw) and Bejoy, Brown, Eloise Medina and Maureen Schrijvers (4×400 women’s relay).
