PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Filipino standouts in obstacle racing flexed their muscles early on in the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games here Wednesday, smashing a pair of world records in the qualifying heats and moving into position to deliver the country’s first gold medal here.

Precious Cabuya touched off a swashbuckling day for Philippine Obstacle Course Race aces at the OCC Wedding Center, covering the 100m course in 33.1278 seconds to lead compatriot Kaizen dela Serna in an all-Filipina duel for the women’s gold.

Dela Serna, the owner of the erstwhile global mark of 35.42 seconds, submitted a personal-best 34.8634 during the initial runs to set up their finals clash on Saturday.

Filipino aces also dominated the action on the men’s side, with Mark Julius Rodelas ripping his own world standard of 26.42 seconds with a roaring 25.0921 seconds in the heats.

Rodelas forged a title showdown with 2019 SEAG king Kevin Pascua, who ranked second with a new personal best of 26.1896.

Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation (POSF) president Atty. Al Agra said Rodelas and Cabuya carved their performances in history books as World Obstacle marks and subject to confirmation, Guinness World Records.

The OCR racers are bent on serving as a gold mine here for the Filipino contingent backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee as they did in 2019 at home, where they completed an unprecedented six-gold sweep.
The women’s crew of Milky Mae Tejares, Mecca Cortizano, Sandi Abahan, and Tess Nocyao, and the men’s squad of Ahgie Radan, Elias Tabac, Mervin Guarte, and Jay-R de Castro looks to duplicate the feat over in the team relay preliminaries today, Thursday.

“Sana tuloy-tuloy,” Agra said ahead of the 8 a.m. hostilities in team relay.