By MARK REY MONTEJO
Leonard Grospe delivered another remarkable performance to capture the bronze medal in the men’s high jump of the 84th Singapore Championships at the Singapore Sports Hub on Thursday evening, April 18.
One of the Filipino hopefuls for the Paris Olympics, Grospe cleared the 2.14 meters to finish third behind Taiwanese bets Fu Chao-Hsuan (2.22m) and Tsai Wei-Chih (2.18m).
Grospe’s effort, however, was way behind the Olympic qualifying standard of 2.33.
But Grospe remained optimistic he can beat the standard height in due time.
Grospe, a national team member since 2020, outshone five other participants in hometown bets Brandon Heng (2.00m) and Viresh Kumar (1.90m), Asher Wong of Hwa Chong Al (1.90m), Wings Athletics’ Joash Tam (1.80m) and Hong Kong’s Michael Kennelly (DNS).
Last December, the proud son of Baler, Aurora set a new national record in the 2023 Philippine National Games where he tallied 2.20m in his second attempt to shatter Sean Guevara’s old mark of 2.17m established in the 2005 edition.
Ironically, Guevara is currently coaching Grospe, who also reset two PH records – including his very own mark – in the 10th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan last February after posting 2.14m and 2.15m.
Meanwhile, long jumper Janry Ubas, a national record holder as well, is also bidding for a podium finish at posting time.
Both Grospe and Ubas are hoping to earn points in the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships at the PhilSports Track and Field Oval in Pasig City on May 8 to 12 in order to boost their Paris bid.
