By el Amigo
MANILA — The Philippines secured its second athletics medal at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games after sprinter Pi Durden Forward Wangkay produced a record-breaking performance in the men’s 200-meter final.
Wangkay, 17, settled for bronze after a thrilling photo finish early Wednesday (Philippine time) at the Complexe Iba Mar Diop Stadium in Senegal, where the silver medal was decided by only 0.004 seconds.
The Filipino runner registered a personal-best 21.359 seconds, just behind Guyana’s Deuquan Farrell, who finished in 21.355 seconds. Zimbabwe’s Ropafadzo Mzondo won the gold in 21.04 seconds.
Although he fell short of silver, Wangkay’s podium finish carried historic significance. He became the first Filipino male track and field athlete to win a medal in Youth Olympic Games history while establishing new national under-18 and under-20 records.
The reigning Asian Youth Games champion said the intensity of the race made the outcome difficult to predict.
“I never (expected a medal). Nakita ko pa lang sa oras, medyo dikit lahat. Dogfight mismo yung ginawa namin kanina. So, to get sa third, almost getting second, masaya na po ako,” Wangkay said.
His achievement came on the heels of Cesar’s silver-medal performance in the women’s 800 meters, giving the Philippine athletics contingent two podium finishes in the competition.
Tolentino congratulated Wangkay, crediting the sprinter’s development to the country’s grassroots sports program.
The POC chief said he had seen Wangkay’s potential from their first encounter on the track and noted that the teenager had already demonstrated his capabilities by winning gold at the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain.
Tolentino also cited Cesar’s silver-medal showing as another indication of the country’s promising young athletics talent.
In other Philippine results, Krog completed the women’s 8.5-kilometer individual time trial in 13:33.34, good for 30th place.
Justiniane is the only remaining Filipino competitor from the nine-member delegation with her windsurfing events still ahead. The Philippines is hoping to add another medal before the Youth Olympic Games officially end on November 13.
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