CAPAS, Tarlac — Rica Mae Balderama of Far Eastern University successfully defended her women’s open long jump title in the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships Friday morning at the New Clark City Stadium here.
The 21-year-old leaped a personal best 5.89 meters (m) to win her second straight gold medal, topping her previous high of 5.86 m.
Enya “Chloe” Chee of Team Cicada Singapore claimed the silver medal with a 5.79-m leap, while Alia Batrisyia Nasaruddin of Malaysia clinched the bronze with 5.76 m.
A reigning UAAP champ, Balderama said she’s happy with her performance but sad at the same time for not hitting her 6.0-meter goal.
That will get her closer to the meet record of 6.16 m set by retired national team standout Marestella Torres-Sunang in 2018.
Torres-Sunang also holds the national record of 6.72 m which she set at the 2016 Kazakhstan Open.
“I’m satisfied, but I’m still sad because I still haven’t reached 6 meters until now. That’s been my goal for a long time — to jump 6 meters.
“Honestly, I think I can do it, I just fouled. They even said earlier that one of my jumps was around 6.20 meters, but it was ruled a foul. I kept fouling on my last two attempts.”
Balderama said she has one more event to compete in which is the triple-jump on Monday.
Three-peat
for Roda, Gobotia
Spectrum Runners’ Jessa Mae Roda and Junel Gobotia both completed a three-peat in the women’s and men’s 3000-m steeplechase, respectively.
Roda clocked 10:36.57 for her third straight title and second gold in the current meet after 4x400-m mixed relay title on Thursday.
Edna Magtubo of Far Eastern University finished second to Roda and snared the silver medal with 10:41.45, while another FEU standout Nicole Kurt Anne Diloy took the bronze with 11:27.
Meanwhile, Gobotia timed 9:08.35 for his third straight gold and fifth overall title.
Gobotia’s teammates Stephine Delariarte (9:10:35) and Noli Torre (9:19.63) took the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
