Richardson, pals survive world-class challengers

By Peter Atencio

ILAGAN, Isabela—Southeast Asian Games veteran Kayla Richardson, newcomers Lauren Hoffman and Umajesty Williams and local bet Sara Dequinan took on world-class challengers, who tested their resolve in the ongoing the ICSTI Philippine Athletics Championships at the Ilagan Sports Complex here on Friday.

Richardson held her ground against Malaysian Olympic veteran Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli and snared the gold medal in 24.1 seconds in the women’s 200-meter finals.

Williams bagged his second medal, this time a silver after he pulled a hamstring halfway in the men’s 200-meter run in his joust with Tokyo Olympic veteran, Iraq’s Taha Hussein Yaseen, who claimed the gold in 21.20 seconds. Williams trailed in 21.4 seconds, while another Iraqi, Mohammed AlTameemi, was third (21.67) in the men’s 200-meter finals.

On the other hand, Hoffman moved closer to a second podium finish after dealing with another strong rival from Vietnam on Day 3.

This time, the 23-year-old Hoffman quickly took the lead and left behind Vietnamese national champion Nguyen Thi Ngoc in the women’s 400-meter hurdles heats and clocked 59.40 seconds for her effort.

Dequinan, who is recovering from a back injury, claimed the long-jump victory for her second gold after earlier topping the women’s heptathlon with 3046 points and outpacing Malaysian national champion Winnie Eng May Xin (2625).

The 24-year old Richardson said her training kicked in as she kept Zulkifli at bay from start to finish.

Richardson was close to her personal best she established last month at 24.01 seconds, which was a second off the national record that Kristina Knott set in 2019.

stint this week after trailing Uy by six with 18 holes left to play in the P875,000 championship.

But after watching Uy fumble with a triple-bogey mishap on the first hole, she knew she had a chance.

“I wasn’t really thinking about what the others were doing but heading to the last round, I knew I had a chance,” said Malixi. “I just had to play my shot the best way I know how and I think that was the key.”

Ikeda likewise waged her own battle from 12 strokes down in an earlier flight, producing a tournament-best 64, also in bogey-free fashion, but the reigning LPGT Order of Merit champion could only finish second at 213.

But Ikeda’s final round rally netted her the top P105,000 prize as Malixi, who swept all her three events in last year’s LPGT, took home the championship trophy.

“This win is huge because my mom is here, so then my coach-caddie (Rick Gibson), who was with me the past two weeks,” said Malixi “But the key was being consistent and trying to be patient all the way through.”

Sarah Ababa also fought back with a 69 to snare third place at 217 and pocketed P74,375 for the second straight week, while Pamela Mariano also closed out with a one-under card to tie Uy at 218. They split the combined P114,625 prize.