WANGKAY, CESAR REWARDED WITH SEA GAMES SLOTS

MANILA, Philippines — Sprinter Pi Durden Wangkay and Naomi Cesar — both medalists in the recent third Asian Youth Games (AYG) in Bahrain — will be both the youngest member of the Philippine Athletics team in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand from December 9 to 20.

For winning the gold in boys’ 200-meter dash with a time of 21.76 in Manama, Bahrain in October, PATAFA under the leadership of its President Terry Capistrano gave the 16-year-old De La Salle Zobel standout the green light to compete in the 200-meter dash at SEA Games.

“Young faces of Philippine athletics have already arrived, and they delivered gold and silver medals in Bahrain’s third Asian Youth Games. They are the future of Philippine athletics, and we are all excited to see them compete,” PATAFA Secretary-General Jasper Tanhueco said.

Cesar, 16, copped the silver medal in the girls’ 800-m final after trailing by just a second to China’s gold winner Jinping Song who clocked in 2:07.84 in the third Asian Youth Games that automatically secured her for the SEA Games roster slot.

Despite hitting the 2:08.69 mark— her personal best in Bahrain, Cesar set up a new record that reset her 2:17.87 time in the 2025 Asian U18 Athletics Championships that won her the bronze in Saudi, Arabia last April.

She also qualified for the World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon, Portland, USA from August 5 to 9, 2026.

“They are the youngest and we are all proud to give them the opportunity to compete in SEA Games this December to boost their morale and confidence,” Capistrano added. “They are both hard working athletes and they really deserved the slots.” Tanhueco also shared that Wangkay would be a reserve for the 4x100 relay, and both young athletes will be preparing to qualify as well for the 2026 Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal from October 31 to November 13.

“Mainly, to give him exposure and experience in preparation for the Youth Olympics and other junior competitions next year,” Tanhueco said. “Pi and Naomi represent the bright future of Philippine athletics, and we will do everything we can to support them.” TMT

2025-11-07T13:59:42Z