CAPAS, Tarlac — Janry Ubas continued his long jump national reign for the sixth straight edition of the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships on Wednesday morning at the New Clark City Stadium here.
A national team mainstay who represents the Philippine Army in this meet, Private Class Ubas incurred three fouls in the final, but his 7.61-meter (m) leap during the qualifications proved untouchable.
Ubas thus seized his ninth gold medal in the last 10 editions of the meet, winning back-to-back from 2016, settling for silver in 2018, taking the crown back in 2019, then winning six straight from 2021.
There was no competition in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ubas’ mentee Kent Jardin of the Philippine national team leaped 7.43 m for the silver medal, while Joshua Patorara of De La Salle Taft jumped 7.36 m for the bronze.
Posting his season-best jump right on his first attempt, the 32-year-old Ubas feels good about his chances in his next competition which is the Korea Open from June 20 to 21.
“During my first jump, I was happy because it was immediately a season-best. The last time I competed in Singapore, I hit 7.40, and I only got that on my very last jump,” said Ubas to reporters in Filipino.
“So earlier, 7.62 (7.61) was just my first jump, which makes me feel very positive because I will be competing in Korea. My performance earlier means I have a good fighting chance in Korea next week for the Korea Open (June 20 to 21),” added the 2023 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist.
Ubas’ sixth straight title was a fitting follow-up to Yacine Guermali’s 3-peat in the men’s 5000 m that kick-started the weeklong competition at 5:30 a.m.
A two-time SEA Games silver medalist last December, the Filipino-Moroccan runner clocked a new meet record of 14:15.34 for the gold, besting the old standard of 14:18.83, which he set in the 2024 edition of the nationals.
“No, not really [looking to beat my record], I’m tired. I just wanna get a good time here, and I think it’s my best time here in the Philippines, you could check on that, but I could tell, so it’s good,” said Guermali, who also holds the national 5000-m record of 13:28.40.
“I talked to my coach. We considered it’s a good time to really come here and try, and I think it’s my best time here [in the Philippines]. I think it’s better than the one I ran in 2024 here in Pasig, I should say.”
Guermali’s fellow national team member Sonny Wagdos timed 14:45.59 for the silver medal, while Alference Braza of the Spectrum Runners registered 14:58.06 for the bronze.
In the other morning results, Sarah Dequinan of the Philippine Army ruled the women’s javelin throw (45.99 m).
Elizabeth Sicat of 2x1D Movement (38.56 m) took the silver while Irene Lamoste of DLSU Taft (33.97 m) grabbed the bronze.
In women’s shot put, Arianna Dawn Rabi of Ilocos Norte snared the gold medal with a 10.89 m push.
Ahkzia Lhyn Lacatan of Atletico Iskolar Calamba City (10.73 m) got the silver as Yih Tzenn Fernandez (10.39 m) claimed the bronze.
More events were being held at press time Wednesday afternoon.
