The 22-year-old Deborah won the gold in women’s pole vault with a record 3.30 meters. It was a shade better than the previous mark of 3.00 established by Maristella Torres in the 2002 National Open.
Deborah matched the old record on her very first attempt then needed two tries to clear 3.30. She failed thrice at 3.50 despite the cheers from the crowd, which had waited for the meet’s final event.
Because she owns a personal best of 4.12, officials gave her a couple of unofficial tries, which she also failed. On her first, she tipped the bar with her left arm, and on the second, she was already down on the mat when the bar fell.
With her pretty smile, Deborah received a warm applause from the crowd then pointed to her relatives, who, despite the rains, came from Makati, Cavite and Baguio, to watch her win the gold.
Moments later, she told reporters of the sad fact that her mother, Elsa, is now confined at the Manila Sanitarium, just a stone’s throw away from the venue, after suffering a stroke last week.
"I’ve been visiting her everyday since then. She suffered a stroke after we got here. Now she’s unable to walk and move her left side. If she’s listening, ‘Mom, this is for you,’" she said, still managing a smile.
"There are no excuses. I should have jumped higher. But I set the Philippine record and won the gold. Next thing for me is the SEA Games if they include me in the team. I’ll work hard for 4.12 just for that," she said.
Definitely, she would be asked to join the national squad, according to athletics officials.
Her only opponent in the event, Amy Albana, failed to clear 2.50.
Deborah’s winning effort yesterday was short of the standing SEA Games record of 3.90 set by Indonesia’s Ni Putu Desy Margawaty in Kuala Lumpur two years ago. But it might be enough to give her a slot to the RP team.
"I’m going home with my mom on Sunday, then keep on training and hopefully return here for the SEA Games," added Deborah, referring to the biennial meet to be hosted by the Philippines next year.
Deborah put on quite a show — fashion wise. She warmed up with her discman on, first wearing a white sweatshirt and black pants before changing into a hooded all-black attire and "sarong" on her waist down.
While warming up, Deborah, who resembles Beah Lucero, the popular gymnast who also turned into taekwondo, put on some moves for the crowd to see, doing a couple of slow tumbling runs and handstands.
Other records broken in this event which also drew foreign runners came in the men’s long jump (Henry Dagmil, 7.83m), men’s hammer throw (Arnel Ferrera, 55.55m) and women’s triple jump (Torres, 12.67m).
Overshadowed by Deborah’s all-around performance were the winners in men’s 200m (Indonesian John Herman Muray, 21.86), women’s 200m (Honey Joy Ortiz, 24.81), men’s 110m hurdles (Indonesian Edy Jakariya, 14.48), men’s javelin (Korea’s Dong Hyun Song, 67.10), men’s pole vault (Emerson Obiena, 4.40), men’s 1,500m (Rene Herrera, 3:55.83), women’s 1,500m (Indonesian Oliva Sadi (4:36.77), men’s 4x400 relay (Ronnie Marfil, Julius Nierras, Ernie Candelario and Gilbert Gujat, 3:13.50), and women’s hammer throw (China’s Liao Xiau Yen, 62.25).