SUBIC — Local bets Princess Arbilon and Samuel German saved their best for last, winning gold in the mixed relay beach laser-run portion of the 30th Southeast Asian Games’ modern pentathlon, Thursday at the Boardwalk.
Arbilon, who finished fourth in the women’s individual event earlier in the day; and Samuel, who won silver for his division, clocked in at 13 minutes and 27.34 seconds to outclass the field of five.
“Sabi namin babawi kami sa relay kasi talo kami sa individuals kanina,” said Samuel, a native of Ormoc.
“Hindi ko inexpect na makaka-gold kami kasi fourth lang ako sa individuals,” added Arbilon, also from Ormoc. “Nag-focus lang kami sa pag-ayos ng aming mga mali kanina.”
The event was the ultimate test of precision and speed, requiring the competitors to hit a target using a laser pistol five times from a 10-meter distance before proceeding to an 800-meter run. They had to do this a total of four times.
Thailand’s Muktapa Changhin and Narong Deck Taparak placed second with a time of 13:28.32. Meanwhile, favorites Cintya Nariska and Frada Saleh of Indonesia floundered to third after finishing with a time of 13:59.54.
Earlier, Indonesia ruled the individual events as Dea Salsabila and Muhammad Taufik won the women’s and men’s individual meets, respectively.
Salsabila clocked in at 15 minutes and 23.59 seconds. Taufik logged in at 13 minutes and 2.24 seconds.
Samuel bagged silver with a time of 13:27.29, while Singapore’s Ming Wei Ong completed the podium with a time of 13:34.28 for the men’s.
Thailand’s Natpapat Sangngio and Singapore’s Kaixin Tung finished with times of 16:17.69 and 16:29.22, respectively, to win silver and bronze in the women’s division.
Tomorrow, the beach triathlete portion of the event takes place, still at the Boardwalk.
