THE POWER OF PI

DAKAR, Senegal — Pi Durden Wangkay ran a fifth-best time in the heats and was assigned on Lane 9 in Tuesday’s final, but with one mighty push he salvaged the men’s 200 meters bronze for Team Philippines’ second medal here and an already best-ever finish in four editions of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

“I ran blind (on Lane 9),” said Wangkay, whose bronze complimented fellow Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) athlete Naomi Marjorie Cesar’s silver she won in women’s 800 meters on Monday.

“I never expected to medal, because I also had the fifth best time in the heats, but our (with mom and coach Jonah Genilza) strategy worked --- for me to run my own race,” added the De La Salle Zobel star who will be back donning his alma mater’s jersey starting 29 November in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

Wangkay ran his season-best 21.96 seconds in the semifinals and, mathematically, was off by more than a second for a podium finish.

But he did the unthinkable, losing the silver to Guyana’s Deuquan’ Farrell via photo finish — Wangkay clocked a personal best 21.36 seconds, a mere 4-1,000th of a second separation.

“I just pushed myself and in the last 10 meters, I looked to my left and he (Farrell) was right there, so I made my own dash to the finish,” Wangkay said.

“But he lunged with all his might, spraining his fist as he falls to the track in the process.”

“I salute him for that, he’s willing to get injured to get a medal,” he added.

Zimbabwe’s Ropafadzo Mzondo was close to comfortably won the gold in 21.04 seconds.

Cesar’s silver and Wangkay’s bronze already surpassed the silver won by Christian Tio in boys’ twin-tip racing of kiteboarding at the 2018 Buenos Aires Games — the gold Luis Gabriel Moreno shared with China’s Li Jiaman in mixed NOC in archery at Nanjing 2014 didn’t officially count.

“Congratulations, too, Pi,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino said.

“Like Naomi (Cesar), I actually expected Pi to medal, he got gold at the AYG (Asian Youth Games in Bahrain 2025).”

“A job well done!” Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick Gregorio said. “Mabuhay ka, Pi!”

Patata president Terry Capistrano said his athletes’ accomplishments here provide a glimpse of the future of Philippine athletics.

“The Dakar YOG is a precursor or a glimpse of the coming SEA Games and Asian Games and future Olympic Games,” Capistrano said. “We’re beginning to get there, but we still have some ways to go.”

“Let us support our very young athletes like Naomi and Pi to ensure that they will have the confidence to take it to the next level,” added Capistrano who, like the athletes, thanked the POC and the PSC.

The Philippine campaign for another medal didn’t end on the track though with Jade Justin Justiniane still in podium position at No. 7 with the races scheduled until Thursday in men’s windsurfing in Saly Beach West.

Justiniane, a 16-year-old protégé of long-time national athlete and coach German Paz, said he’ll go for the podium in the sport that’s unpredictable — depending on the wind — day in and day out.

“I came here prepared and I’ll do my best to make it here,” he said.

China continued to be in control with 15 gold, eight silver and five bronze medals after 125 of 151 events here, followed by Japan with 9-7-7 (gold-silver-bronze), Russian Federation (8-4-1), Egypt (6-1-4) and Ethiopia (5-3-0).