PASIG CITY: Janry Ubas, Southeast Asian (SEA) Games long jump champion, emerged victorious in the 2023 Cel Logistics, Inc. Weekly Relay Series Finals. The competition took place at the Philsports track and field stadium in Pasig City on Saturday.
According to a new release by Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) headed by Terry Capistrano, Ubas, 29, registered a jump of 7.75 meters, defeating 2023 ROTC Games triple-gold medalist Kent Francis Jardin of Adamson University, who posted 6.77 meters, and Leonard Grospe of Mapua with 6.66 meters. Ubas expressed optimism for his performance in the upcoming Philippine National Games in December. He mentioned that despite experiencing back pain, he was able to perform well.
Ubas, currently the world's No. 48 long jumper, stated that he had returned to training after an off-season following the Asian Games. He aims to continue his preparations for 2024. Earlier this year, at the Cambodia SEA Games, Ubas jumped 7.85 meters to win the individual long jump gold. He also set a personal best of 8.08 meters in the same event in decathlon, placing second to Thailand's Sutthisak Singkhon. The athlete, mentored by national coach Dario de Rosas, has had an impressive track record, including a bronze medal in the heptathlon at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championship in Kazakhstan.
Meanwhile, Sarah Dequinan claimed the gold in the women's long jump event with a leap of 5.72 meters. Trexie dela Torre of La Salle won the silver with a 5.54-meter jump, and Angelyn Ortiz of FEU secured the bronze with 5.53 meters. Other winners in the relay series included Tyronne Exequiel Flores from NU and Jamela de Asis from UST in shot put; Hockett delos Santos from UST and Abcd Agamanos from La Salle in 60m hurdles; National Team's Anfernee Lopeña and Jessel Lumapas in 200m; Vincent Vianmar dela Cruz from UE in the 5,000m walk; and Ritchie Estampador from Mapua and Jessa Mae Roda from NU in the 3,000m steeplechase.