SONNY WAGDOS EYES PARIS RACE

SEA Games silver medalist wins 5K gold in Araw ng Dabaw athletics

SOUTHEAST Asian (SEA) Games silver medalist Sonny Wagdos returned to Manila on Tuesday, March 26th, to process his visa for Paris after clinching the men’s 19-and-above 5,000-meter run gold medal at the recently concluded 2nd Araw ng Dabaw Athletics Festival held at the UM track oval in Matina, Davao City.

“Pinakalit lang. Balik na dayon ko Manila kay nag-process ko visa para sa Paris karong April nako nga dula didto, Ma’am ( Just a quick visit. I’m going back to Manila right away because I’m processing a visa for my April race in Paris),” he said in a Facebook interview with SunStar Davao.

Wagdos is set to compete in the Asics Speed Race, a 10-kilometer road event set on April 5, the first part of the three-day Paris Festival of Running.

The former University of Mindanao (UM) standout Wagdos, a 33rd SEA Games silver medalist in Cambodia, finished in 15 minutes and 07.43 seconds, surpassing individual entry Cronie Melliza (16:13.18) and AFP’s Anthony Nerza (16:34.94) who claimed the silver and bronze, respectively.

Wagdos also took the men’s 5K title in the Kadayawan sa Dabaw athletics last year.

AFP emerged overall champion in men’s and women’s divisions, respectively.

Ken Francis Hardin, a teammate of Wagdos and Nerza, was named most valuable player (MPV), lifting the AFP men’s gold medal haul, pocketing two golds (200m, long jump). Their teammates Husain Lorana (800m) and Sharad Khumar (high jump) accounted for one gold each.

Team Go for Gold placed second, with golden performances from Guhan Garcia (100m) and Oly

Orogan (400m).

In women’s 19-above category, AFP’s Jessel Lumapas (200m), Bernalyn Bejoy (800m), and Maria Jona Lina Abutas (5,000m) each annexed a gold. Andrea de Guia, who secured the 400m gold, led UM to a runner-up overall finish along with two other teammates who also won golds.

However, Charlenne Samontina of Starland bagged the MVP honors, sweeping one gold (1,500m), one silver (400m), and one bronze (800m).

In 18-under, the Cotabato Carabao Runner and Leyte Sports Academy copped the boys and girls 18-under titles, while Team Davao Striders and BBG Team A ruled the boys and girls 13-under divisions.