OUTSTANDING FEMME SPARTAN — Sandi Menchi Abahan clinched the top spot in the female side of the Kaohsiung Spartan Race in Gongqi Park, Taiwan on April 13. She also placed fifth overall in the grueling event, making her one of the cream of the crop in the country in endurance sport. — Contributed photo
Cordillera pride Sandi Menchi Abahan once more proved her mettle when she ruled the women’s side of the Kaohsiung Spartan Race in Gongqi Park, Taiwan on April 13.
Abahan has conquered the race in one hour, 13 minutes and 40 seconds to emerge as champion in the women’s super-competitive event and placed fifth in the overall result of the grueling obstacle race.
Japanese Reika Kijima is in second place with a time of 1:23:55 while Taiwanese Bo Shao Xie placed third with a time of 1:35:28.
“I had fun trying new obstacles that I hadn’t before. And I didn’t expect the route to be as technical as it was during this race. It felt like it was all just obstacles the whole way through,” Abahan said in her Facebook post.
Fellow Filipino athlete Jonathan Bauson, placed second in the male division with a time of 1:08:42 time followed by Eugene Dinawanao in third place at 1:09:25 while Japanese Hiroshi Kato took the lead at 1:01:12 for the first place finish.
United Kingdom’s Chris Davis clinched the fourth place with 1:11:48 time and followed by Abahan in fifth place.
It was a true testament of the talent and skill of Abahan for being at the top five overall of the event, overtaking other male athletes, while fellow female placer Kijima stands on 15th place overall.
Earlier, the country’s top endurance female runner was hailed for her achievements in the obstacle course racing where she emerged as the first Asian Spartan athlete to step in the podium bagging the bronze medal in the 21-kilometer elite world championship.
She was awarded together with her teammates from the Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation, Precious Que-Aguilar, Precious Cabuya, and Kaizen Dela Serna also for their excellence in OCR sports. — Ofelia C. Empian
