CAPAS, Tarlac. — “What a great comeback!”
That quote came from Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Terry Capistrano, who witnessed Robyn Brown complete a golden treble after ruling the women’s 100-meter in runaway fashion in the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships late Saturday night.
Running like a gazelle, Brown, who was heartbroken and nearly retired after failing to qualify for the Paris Olympics, ended her memorable campaign at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium pulling away to win in a time of 13.85 seconds in the meet organized by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association.
She finished way ahead of Thailand’s Arisa Weruwanark (14.15) and Malaysia’s Lee Yie Teng (14.48), who settled for the silver and bronze, respectively, in the blue-ribbon competition supported by the ICTSI Foundation and CEL Logistics.
After an emphatic win over Paris Olympian Lauren Hoffman in the 400-meter hurdles last week, Brown won her second mint by anchoring the national 4×400 mixed relay team that included Kharis Lark Rey Pantonial, Bernalyn Bejoy and Hussein Lorana to victory in a time of 3:29.85 late Friday night.
Sharing the spotlight was Paris Olympian John Cabang Tolentino, who marked his return to action with a pulse-pounding win in the men’s 110-meter hurdles, clocking 13.98 seconds in the games also backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, United Auctioneers Inc., Milo, Wireless Link and Masiv Sports.
He survived the challenge of former Southeast Asian Games champion Clinton Kingsley Bautista and FilAm Sports’ Kaleb Emmanuel Luton in the competition supported by BCDA-New Clark City, Clark Water and EnergyA.
Fresh from military training, Bautista, the 2022 Vietnam SEA Games gold medalist, settled for runner-up honors in 14.16 seconds while the 6-foot-3 Luton, a former volleyball player, (14.29) bagged the bronze.
National team middle distance runner Frederick Ramirez, who looked stale with just a month’s preparation, faded in the last 50 meters and settled for second place in the men’s 400 meters in 47.71 seconds behind Thailand gold medalist Jeerayu Pieenaram (47.37).
Beaming radiantly after her latest golden finish, Brown, whose mother hails from Imus, Cavite remained humble, saying: “It (the 100 hurdles) is not an easy event. It was tough because unlike the 400-meter hurdles, there is not much of a foot touchdown.
“It all came down to good work, great hurdle work,” said Brown, adding she had been closely watching the videos of 32nd Cambodia SEA Games bronze medalist Jelly Diane Paragile, who finished fourth in the event and was by her side during the interview after the race.
Reveling on her best performance yet in the meet, Brown said matter-of-factly that “I came here with no expectations. At one point, I was going to quit after not making the Olympics. Bringing myself back to the track has been an emotional performance for me.
“So I am enjoying the place I am at, enjoying training again, and just enjoying being back in the Philippines.”
Tolentino was also delighted by his return to the track after being out of commission since December due to an injury suffered in the Paris Summer Games.
“I wasn’t able to train because of the injury on the right leg, the head leg. It has been a very, very hard road until so now I am glad I am back,” the athlete, who was born in Spain but is a pure Filipino, said, adding that the leg still hurts occasionally.
“The pain is more or less six or seven out of 10. But I am okay that I am happy to train so I can run in the Asian championships,” disclosed Tolentino, referring to the meet set from May 27 to 31 in Gumi, South Korea.
“Kulang talaga sa ensayo sir, mga isang buwan pa lang. Pero maganda na rin ang oras dahil na kapag 47.7 pa rin ako,” said Ramirez, who took the bronze in the event in the 32nd Cambodia SEA Games in 46.63 seconds.
