JUBILATION. A jubilant Katherine Khay Santos celebrates after topping the women’s 100 - meter dash in the first day of the Ayala Philippine Athletics Championship being held at the Baguio Athletic Bowl. Santos also snagged the gold medal in long jump, edging Olympian and SEA Games veteran Maristella Sunang who settled for the silver. SCORE photo
Katherine Khay Santos announced her return into the national track and field competition after a three year hiatus bagging two gold medals in the first day of the Ayala Philippine Athletics Championship being held at the Baguio Athletic Bowl.
The Baguio girl snatched the gold earlier in the long jump competition and immediately joined the starting line for the 100 - meter dash where she also took home the top podium.
Santos, a former student of the University of Baguio clocked 12.61 seconds in the 100 – meter dash after leaping 6.06 meters in the long jump event where she bested Olympian and SEA Games veteran Maristella Sunang who settled for the silver while Erika Marquez salvaged bronze.
“Hindi ko na tinapos yung sixth jump ko kasi baka hindi na umabot sa 100 meters,” said Santos.
Coming in second in the women’s 100-meter dash is Erica Marie Ruto with a time of 12.81 seconds with Ellah Therese Sirilan taking the bronze medal with a time of 13.13 seconds.
2019 SEA Games men's 110 hurdles also bagged a gold medal in the 100 - meter dash with a time of 10.86 seconds outrunning Rocky Feller Ramos who settled for silver with a time of 11.02 seconds with Vince Jayson taking home the bronze with a time of 11.03 seconds.
“Nag start ako dito sa athletic bowl na lupa pa lang siya nung grade 6 hanggang college. Ibang-iba yung pakiramdam tsaka homecourt tayo kaya kailangan galingan,” added the 31 – year – old mother who represented Dona Aurora Elementary School and Baguio City National High School during her younger days.
Eighteen gold medals are at stake in each of the men’s and women’s divisions in the two – day competition which marks the return of full competition on the national stage.
The event kicks off the preparations of the national athletes for the Hanoi 31st SEA Games in May and the Hangzhou Asian Games in September. SCORE
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