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SEA Games: PH's Beram captures 2nd gold after 400m victory

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ABS-CBN News

(UPDATED) Trenten Anthony Beram topped the men&#x27;s 400-meter race for his second gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.Beram, who won the <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/23/17/sea-games-phs-anthony-beram-aries-toledo-scoop-up-track-and-field-golds">gold</a> in the 200 meters on Wednesday night, is the first double-mint winner in this edition of the Games.He clocked 46.39 seconds in the 400s, .07 seconds ahead of the Thailand runner and .09 seconds faster than Vietnam&#x27;s bet.Despite cramps and drawing an outer lane, Beram overcame those challenges at the National Stadium.Beram, who topped the qualifiers, was assigned lane No. 7, while hometown rival Muhammad Azam Masri, who was fourth in the prelims, was placed on the favorable lane No. 5, a spot given to those who place first in the qualifiers. The disadvantage notwithstanding, Beram went on to win the race, accelerating in the final 10 meters to capture the title.It marked the first time in recent memory that a Filipino runner was able to sweep both the men’s 200- and 400-meter races in the SEA Games.In another medal finish by a Filipino in track and field, Janrey Ubas took the bronze in men&#x27;s long jump. “I felt the cramps just an hour before the race,” Beram, of University of Connecticut, said. “We did a lot of massage and hydration because I really felt heavy entering the race.“I knew I had to give my 100,000% to win. I just thank God that he gave me the strength to do it.”Fuming on the sidelines was Edward Kho, the national team manager who questioned the decision to place Bertram on the outer lane. “They seemed to have played around with the international track rules that the top four qualifiers can be assigned to lanes No. 4, 5, 6 and 7,” Kho said. “Our athlete was the top qualifier so why should he placed in the outer lane?”Bertram shrugged off such concerns.“It’s still 400 meters all around. I just couldn’t see my competitors. But it still sprint so you have to run as fast you can.” After two straight grueling days of racing, he had only one thing on his mind: “Time to get me much-needed sleep.” For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/" target="_blank"> ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

Beram, who won the gold in the 200 meters, is the first double-mint winner in this edition of the Games.

Beram, who won the gold in the 200 meters, is the first double-mint winner in this edition of the Games.