Guermali tops 5000m race, Ubas keeps long jump title

 Fil-Am runner Yacine Guermali made the most of his one and only event early Wednesday morning, ruling the men’s 5000-meter race handily to kick off the ICTSI Philippine Athletic Championships presented by the Philippine Sports Commission at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.

With barely three days to prepare after arriving in Manila from the US Sunday, Guermali took the early lead and never looked back in running away with the gold in 14 minutes and 15.34 seconds. He topped the event for the third time in a row.

National teammate Sonny Wagdos was a distant second (14:45.59) while Alfrence  Braza (14:58.06) of Spectrum Runners took third in the meet organized by Philippine Athletics and supported by CEL Logistics and United Asia Automotive Group.

Meanwhile, former Southeast Asian Games long jump gold medalist Janry Ubas jumped a season best 7.61 meters on his first try to  retain his title for the seventh consecutive time.