Jerrold Mangliwan timed his race well and finished as the seventh fastest during the preliminary heats of the men’s 400 meters T52 event of the 2020 Summer Paralympics Athletics competition at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium, Friday.
Mangliwan did lag behind his personal best of 1:02.17 set just this season after he crossed the finish line at 1:03.41. Still, the native of San Jose del Monte, who is a father of three managed to qualify as the fastest of the non-automatic qualifiers into the finals.
The top three finishers in each heat proceed directly into the medal race. Mangliwan finished fourth in the first of the two heats.
Mangliwan tried to keep pace with Mexico’s Leonardo Perez Suarez, but the latter powered through the final straight to finish ahead of the 2018 Asian ParaGames bronze medalist.
Nonetheless, Mangliwan made the final for the second straight Paralympics after he also took his lane five years ago in Rio.
USA’s Raymond Martin topped their heat with season-best 57.70, but it was hometown bet Tomoki Sato who finished ahead of everyone with a time of 57.33.
Mangliwan will attempt to clinch Team Philippines’ first medal of the Games when the final gets underway later in the evening of Friday at 7:16 p.m., Manila time.
