By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Fil-Spaniard John Cabang eclipsed his own national record anew in the men’s 110-meter hurdles in the 2023 Spanish Athletics Championships at the Pista Parc Central in Torrent, Spain over the weekend.
Cabang, a bronze winner at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia last May, clocked 13.53 seconds to reset his previous mark of 13.56sec registered at the Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok, Thailand last month.
His record-breaking feat also earned him the silver medal behind eventual gold medalist Enrique Llopis, who timed 13.40sec. Kevin Sanchez grabbed the bronze with 13.82sec.
Cabang opened his campaign with a 14.32sec performance to lead Heat 2 and advance to the semifinals.
He ran faster in the semifinal 2 by finishing second on 13.99sec behind top Llopis’ 13.62sec before further improving his performance in the finals.
Cabang is coming off a record-breaking feat in the Asian Championships that saw him finish 4th.
Like most track and field athletes, Cabang is on the hunt for a spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics by joining sanctioned events with hopes of meeting the qualifying standard.
The qualifying time for men’s 110m hurdles is 13.26sec.
So far, only pole vaulter EJ Obiena has earned a berth to Paris Games for Team PH.
