HAVING tasted initial success in the 30th Southeast Asian Games three years ago, Clinton Kingsley Bautista is determined to keep his men’s 110-meter hurdles crown in the Vietnam SEA Games in May despite the lack of overseas exposure due to the pandemic.
“Sayang naman kung ibibigay na lang natin ‘yung titulo pagkatapos ng lahat ng sakripisyo natin,” Bautista said in recent interview as he talked of his chances in the SEA Games scheduled May 14 to 19 at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi.
The dusky Camiling, Tarlac pride admitted he has a lot of work to do, considering that he won the race at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium in neighboring Capas by a whisker, beating Malaysia’s Rayzham Shah Wan Sofian in a photo finish after both clocked similar 13.97 seconds.
Not too far behind was Laotian Anousoune Xaysa, who took the bronze in a time of 13.99 seconds.
“Kung maibaba ko ang aking personal best time from 13.97 seconds to 13.80 seconds, malaki po ‘yong chance ko makuha ulit yung gold,” the five-time UAAP champion and two-time UAAP MVP said.
National coach Dario de Rosas, who oversees the hurdler’s training, said they still has six weeks to go to reach the target time and noted that Bautista has progressively lowered his clocking in the last three meets organized by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association.
“From 14.41 to 14.21 and the last time to 14.11 seconds so may progress ang takbo ni Clinton,” De Rosas said.
But De Rosas acknowledged that Bautista’s bid to retain his title is no cakewalk even if he lowers his time “kasi marami pa ring kalaban katulad nung taga-Singapore and Malaysia.”
Former Philippine Sports Commission statistician turned coach Andrew Pyrie, who runs the pinoyathletics.info website and keeps track and ranks the track and field athletes in the region, said Bautista is currently No. 3 in Southeast Asia based on his last clocking in the event.
“Thailand’s Natthapol Dansungoen is No. 1 with a time of 13.91 seconds while Singapore’s Chen Xiang Ang (13.97) is No. 2. The third is Malaysia’s Mohammad Riza bin Muhammad, who has the same time as Bautista,” Pyrie shared.
De Rosas said the athlete’s main drawback is the lack of international competition “kaya kami-kami lang. Hindi namin tuloy ma-estima ‘yung makakalaban ni Clinton. But as long as he remains healthy and keeps on improving. he has a good chance in Hanoi.”
