ILAGAN City — Southeast Asian Games champion and national record holder Sarah Dequinan lived up to high billing as she became the first double-gold medal winner after three days in the 2023 ICTSI- Philippine Athletics Championships at the Ilagan City Sports Complex here Friday.

Dequinan, who made the country proud by winning the gold medal in the women’s heptathlon during the 2019 SEA Games in Manila, topped the women’s open long jump event in 5.79 meters for her second gold medal in the week-long competition organized by the Philippine Athletics and Track and Field Association (PATAFA), headed by President Terry Capistrano, in cooperation with the Ilagan City government, ICTSI and CEL Logistics.

The 26-year-old pride of Valencia, Bukidnon outclassed Diana Hurano of Bohol (5.54m) and Abcd Agamos of Ilagan (5.30m), who placed second and third, respectively.

The University of Santo Tomas graduate also won the gold medal in heptathlon last Thursday, garnering 5220 points against 4028 of lone rival Eng May Xin of Malaysia (4028) in the seven-discipline event.

“Gusto ko po kasi talaga na masanay na marami ang kalaban hindi gaya kahapon sa hepta na dalawa lang kami, kaya parang kalaban mo lang yun sarili mo. Gusto ko ma-improve ,” said Dequinan, who is best remembered as the first Filipina to win the heptathlon since PSA Lifetime Achievement awardee Elma Muros did it in 1997 and 2011 and Nene Pellosis in 1985 and 1991.

“Hepta kasi ang main event ko eto po kasi parang enjoyment na lang po, dagdag sa training so alam ko po yung weakness ko so kailangan ko siyang trabahuin ko po,” added Dequinan, who is using the competition as part of her training in the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia in May.

Dequinan, however, failed to win a third gold when she settled for the silver medal with a heave of 42.41 meters in javelin throw.

That javelin throw gold went to Evalyn Palabrica, who recording 45.92.

The long jump and javelin throw events were held almost simultaneously.

Dequinan completed her first two jumps to join the javelin throw before returning for her fourth jump to wrap up her long jump event.

Over at the track, Abegail Manzano of University of the Philippines bagged the gold medal in women’s 3000m steeplechase with a time of 11:24.9 against April Joy Alampayan of Bohol Province Track and Field team(12:03.2) and Jenisyll Quirante of Philippine Army (12:42.7).

Mark Ivan Reccion of City of Ilagan captured the gold medal in boys high jump after leaping 1.60 against 1.51 of Rommel Cadorna and 1.51 of Dave Iglesia.

Also winning gold medals were Junel Gobotia of Camarines Norte (9:20.88) in 3000m ateeplechase men’s open, Jean Albaciete of Leyte Sports Academy – Province of Leyte (9.90) in triple jump girls-under-18.