Grospe cops high jump bronze in Singapore
Leonard Grospe continued to impress after winning the bronze medal in the 84th Singapore Championships at the Singapore Sports Hub on Thursday evening, April 18.
Despite being far from Olympic qualifying standard of 2.33 meters, the 22-year-old Grospe made sure he is worthy of attention as he leapt 2.14m in the men’s high jump event to secure a podium spot. Chinese Taipei’s Fu Chao-hsuan (2.22m) and Tsai Wei-chih (2.18m) bagged the gold and silver medals, respectively.
Grospe, a national team member since 2020, outshone five other participants in hometown bets Brandon Heng (2.00m) and Viresh Kumar (1.90m), Asher Wong of Hwa Chong Al (1.90m), Wings Athletics’ Joash Tam (1.80m) and Hong Kong’s Michael Kennelly (DNS).
Last December, the proud son of Baler, Aurora set a new national record in the 2023 Philippine National Games where he tallied 2.20m in his second attempt to shatter Sean Guevara’s old mark of 2.17m in the 2005 edition.
Ironically, Guevara is currently coaching Grospe, who also reset two PH records – including his very own mark – in the 10th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan last February after posting 2.14m and 2.15m.
Meanwhile, Janry Ubas, a national record holder as well, is currently competing in the long jump event at the same venue.
Ubas is gearing up to his Paris Olympic bid as he is also taking part in the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships at the Philsports Track and Field Oval in Pasig City on May 8 to 12.
The Singapore athletics tourney is a two-day tilt and joined by more than 180 athletes from nine different countries.