NCR’s Placido breaks Palaro record, notches gold
Slowly but surely.
Making history in the province of Ilocos Norte, NCR Metro Star’s Sep Placido shattered a 7-year-old record during the 2025 Palarong Pambansa held at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial (FEMM) Stadium on May 27.
Placido clocked in at 10:15.15 in the 2000-meter race walk, setting a new personal best and a new Palarong Pambansa record.
During the previous year, the NCR Pride’s 2024 Palarong Pambansa run took a hit after her record breaking performance of 10:42:84, two seconds faster than the previous record of 10:44:44 set in 2018 by Calabarzon’s Laurize Jeanne Wangkay, was nulled due to the stadium being short by .88 meters.
“Actually pag-uwi ko galing [last year’s] nationals nag-training ako agad for speed,” Placido.
Demonstrating her strategic pacing and endurance, Placido reserved her stamina during the initial lap, positioning herself in fourth place as she prepared to make her move in the race.
In the third lap, two racers from CALABARZON faced head-to head with Placido, making it a decisive factor proceeding to the final lap.
“Kinakabahan nako dahil may nagli-lead na ibang region, of course its my aim to break this record, this year since pangatlong Palaro ko na ito,” Placido added.
Despite trailing behind in the early stages, Placido surged ahead in the final lap, overtaking the CALABARZON duo and securing first place in the 2000-meter race walk at the 2024 Palarong Pambansa. | via Khrylle AB-CD Diaz / Mandaluyong High School
