ILAGAN, Isabela. — Fil-Americans Umajesty Williams and Angel Frank made their grand debut for the country Wednesday, sweeping the men’s and women’s 400-meter runs in the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships at the Ilagan Sports Complex here.
Living up to his billing as the top favorite, Williams slowly pulled away just after the 200-meter mark before holding off La Union’s Frederick Ramirez, taking the gold in 47.15 second to the latter’s 47.40 seconds.
Frank started strong and was ahead of the pack by the time they made the far turn and emerged as the runaway winner in 53.69 seconds. Another Fil-Am, Danae Manibog, was second in 54.73 seconds.
“I am truly grateful for this victory and I would like to thank Patafa and former president Dr. Philip Ella Juico in making this all possible,” Willliams, a former University of Arizona athletic varsity ace, said.
“This is simply amazing to win in my first race for the Philippines, and hopefully, we can win another tomorrow in the 200,” added Williams, who will gun for a golden double when he competes in the 200-meter run Thursday.
“To win this gold for the Philippines in my first race is very significant. This is a dream,” said Frank, a third-year student and varsity track star for the University of South Carolina.
“This is doubly sweet since this is my only event here and I am celebrating my birthday tomorrow,” added Frank, who turns 22 Thursday.
Williams and Frank topped their respective heats in the competition organized by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.
Williams topped the men’s heats in 47.80 seconds while Frank topped the women’s heats in 55.05 seconds.
Seeing action in the event for the first time in four years, Fil-Am Laurent Hoffman made her debut in the meet and nearly pulled off a giant-sized upset but eventually settled for the silver in the women’s 100-meter hurdles.
Sandwiched between two Vietnamese runners, Hoffman was ahead going into the last 10 meters before My Thien Huynh Thi, running on her left, sneaked past her to take the gold in 13.59 seconds.
Hoffman clocked 13.72 seconds, relegating Nguyen Bui Thi, the reigning SEA Games 100-meter hurdles champ, to the bronze (13.83) in the competition also backed by CEL Logistics.
“Although I didn’t win the gold medal, I’m still happy because this was my first time to run the event in four years. It gave me such a thrill,” said the former Duke varsity track and field athlete, who sees action in her pet event, the 400-meter hurdles on Friday.
An upset of sorts happened in the men’s 110-meter hurdles, with Filipino-Spanish John Cabang nipping two-time Southeast Asian Games champion Clinton Kingsley Bautista, clocking 14.35 seconds to the latter’s 14.40.
“Sabi ni coach Dario de Rosas na tumakbo ako para makuha ang tiyempo muli, kaya okay lang,” said Bautista, who had thought of pulling out in the finals after topping heats because it was his first race in more than four months.
