Gobothia, Roda hard to catch

CAPAS, Tarlac, Philippines — With an eye on the Nagoya Asian Games in September, steeplechasers Junel Gobothia and Jessa Mae Roda showed marked improvement to rule their respective events at the ICTSI  Philippine Athletic Championship presented by the Philippine Sports Commission at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium.

Gobothia took control in the last three laps in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase en route to victory in nine minutes and 8.35 seconds of the meet co-presented by the BCDA and New Clark City.

Roda ran a tactical race before surging past national teammate Edna Magtubo in the last 100 meters to clinch top spot on the distaff side in 10:38.57 of  the competition organized by Philippine Athletics a.

Their times were so much faster than the 9:15.39 that Gobothia booked in securing silver and the 11:18.86 of Roda, who finished fifth, at the recent New Taipei City Athletics Open.