PHNOM PENH, Cambodia—The 4x400-meter relay men’s team clinched the gold medal in a photo finish as the national athletics squad wrapped up its 32ndSoutheast Asian Games campaign on a high note at the Morodok Techo National Stadium.
Umajesty Williams, Michael Del Prado, Frederick Ramirez and Joyme Sequita clocked 3 minutes and 7.22 seconds to win the event by just a 0.01 of a second over Thailand.
The victory ended the country’s 10-year drought in the event it last won in the 2013 edition in Myanmar courtesy of Isidro Del Prado Jr., Edgardo Alejan, Julius Nierras and Christian Bagsit.
The Filipinos took an early lead but slowed down midway before Williams, the last runner, mustered up enough strength and speed to pull off the win.
“He almost got me. He’s a strong guy,” said Williams of Thailand’s last runner.
The PH athletics team will go home with four gold, 10 silver and eight bronze medals, failing to match their previous showing in Hanoi, Vietnam last year where they bagged five golds, seven silvers and 14 bronzes.
The other three golds came from pole vaulter EJ Obiena, long jumper Janry Ubas and hurdler Eric Cray.