Melvin Sacay and Juliana Shane Sevilla joined the growing list of Filipino pentathletes with big international wins after ruling the mixed relay junior category recently in the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne 2024 Laser Run World Championships in Zhengzhou, China.
Both natives of Ormoc City, 17-year-olds Sacay and Sevilla completed the 3,600-meter run-and-shoot course on a flat terrain in 12 minutes and 50.07 seconds to turn back the Chinese duo of Ding Quan and Meng Xin, which clocked 13:02.43.
2 silvers
Two more silver medals added sparkle to the Philippine campaign in Zhengzhou courtesy of Sacay in the men’s junior division and the trio of Sevilla, Princess Honey Arbilon and Shyra Mae Aranzado in the women’s race.
Samuel German was paired with Aranzado for a bronze medal in the mixed relay where five targets were spread out for every 800 meters on the course.
“It’s quite gratifying for us to win in the world championships,” Philippine Modern Pentathlon Association president Richard Gomez told the Inquirer. “All our athletes are strong and driven. A different medalist from our team emerges in every competition, that’s how determined they are to qualify for the Olympics.’’