Guermali plotting SEA Games attack

Filipino-Moroccan Yacine Guermali believes that he has what it takes to clinch his first gold medal when he competes in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games from 9 to 20 December in Thailand.

The long-distance runner from Gonzaga University said he is fit and ready for a SEA Games conquest after posting 14 minutes and 35.99 seconds to clinch the crown in the men’s 5,000-meter run of the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships recently.

“Sometimes it’s the optimal conditions and in the right competition as well. When you’re in a scenario where there’s a lot of competition and perfect weather, it’s especially difficult,” Guermali, whose mother was born in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya and father Adam, now an American citizen, ran for the Moroccan national team, said.

“In other words, everything comes into place.”

But the national tourney isn’t the actual battle for the 25-year-old runner.

Sideliners believe that Guermali has a solid chance of winning the SEA Games gold medal after posting a national record of 13:33.13 in the men’s 5,000m run at the Portland Track Festival in Oregon last June.

On the other hand, Kieran Tuntivate of Thailand cornered the 5,000m crown in 14:34.77 two years ago in Cambodia.

Guermali and other Filipino standouts will be competing in the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea from 27 to 31 May as part of their preparation for the biennial meet.