NAY PYI TAW -- There's a new king of steeplechase in the Southeast Asian Games, and he remains to be a Filipino.
Christopher Ulboc Jr. knocked the crown off the head of reigning champion and compatriot Rene Herrera when he won the gold medal in the men's 3000m steeplechase of the biennial meet’s 27th edition Wednesday at the Wunna Theikdi Sports Complex here.
The 23-year-old Ulboc clocked nine minutes and 1.59 seconds to clinch the Philippines' fouth gold medal in athletics.
Tiem Sam Pham of Vietnam settled for the silver medal with a time of 9:02.50, while Patikam Pechsricha of Thailand took the bronze with a clocking of 9:04.04.
Herrera, who ruled the event since the 2003 Vietnam Games, checked in fourth with 9:09.14.
Meanwhile, Filipino-American Jessica Barnard copped the bronze medal in the distaff side of the event, coming home at 11:04.84, or a minute slower than gold medalist Rini Budiarti of Indonesia (10:04.54).
Silver medal went to Thi Oanh Nguyen of Vietnam (10:30.92).
In women’s long jump, Katherine Khay Santos only finished fourth after registering 5.93 meters.
Indonesia's Maria Londa leapt 6.39 meters to beat Thitima Muangjan of Thailand and Vietnames Thi Thu Thao Bui for the gold medal.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
