CAPAS, Tarlac — Juliana Talaro overcame the punishing weather and a star-studded field to secure the first gold medal in the women’s 10K walk event of the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships on Thursday at the New Clark City Stadium here.

The 22-year-old Talaro survived the raging summer sun of 36 degrees Celsius and beat Azeneth Sinat in the final lap to seal the dramatic victory in 55 minutes and 57.21 seconds.

Talaro said she saved her energy in the final lap while watching Sinat struggle before finishing with 56:51.95 to settle for the silver medal of this annual trackfest that serves as tryouts for aspiring members of the national team that will compete in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December.

Sep Placido of University of the East, on the other hand, clocked 57:59.90 for the bronze medal.

“I focused on recovery while I was trying to catch up. When I got ahead, I held on to my lead of 50m,” Talaro, a member of the University of the Philippines athletics team, said following her energy-sapping victory.

“That’s when I went for the win.”

Talaro said she believes that her performance would be enough for her to make it to the national squad.

“Hopefully, I will be able to make it to the national pool,” Talaro, a two-time champion, said.

Meanwhile, Sinat admitted that the weather and fatigue caught up with her as she failed to dethrone Talaro.

“I got tired because it was so hot. I’m not used to these conditions and I lacked endurance,” Sinat, who plays for University of Santo Tomas in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, said.

In the men’s U18 5,000m walk, Wenniel Simba of Muntinlupa finally captured the gold after posting a commanding time of 27:27.04.

Simba, 16, dethroned teammate Rain Mabeling, who had a time of 27:29.95.

“This win is unexpected because I finished in third place in the NCR (National Capital Region) Palaro,” Simba said.

Jaycee Reyes of Biñan plucked the bronze medal with a time of 27:52.94.

At press time, Filipino-American hurdlers Lauren Hoffman and Robyn Brown are vying for the women’s 400m hurdles crown while SEA Games gold medalist Kristina Knott is looking to dominate the women’s 200m event.

Also vying for a gold medal is SEA Games champion Janry Ubas in the men’s decathlon.

The second day of competition promises to be explosive as stars like thrower William Morrison, triple jumper Ronnie Malipay, and pole vaulters Hokett delos Santos and Elijah Cole are expected to flex their muscles in their respective categories.