MANILA, Philippines – Bless her heart but determination and willpower pushed Jermyn Prado to tide over the field and lord it over for gold in the women’s individual time trial road race cycling tournament Thursday morning in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Tagaytay City.

But, indeed, it was not an easy win for the 24-year-old Prado who collapsed after finishing the grueling route that started from Nasugbu, Batangas up to the Praying Monument high up in Tagaytay City.

She clocked in 44 minutes and 44.742 seconds.

That was the best among the field even as it added the gold haul of the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling).

The win also allowed Prado to wrest back for the country the SEAG honor first achieved by Marella Salamat in the 2015 Singapore SEA Games.

Singapore’s Luo Yiwei had it 44:48.518 for silver while Thai Somrat Phetdarin settled for the bronze in 44:58.152.

An enlisted Navy personnel who once worked as welder at the Pagbilao Power Plant in her home province of Quezon, Prado actually needed to push herself and her bike in the final stretch of 23.1-kilometro race course before collapsing holding a four-second advantage to win the gold.

“Tinodo ko na po eh. Sobrang hirap. Pero paid off lahat ng sakripisyo po namin. Sobrang saya po,” said Prado, a member of the Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance Continental Team.

In all, Prado is the third of her class to win the gold after Lea Denise Belgira and John Derick Farr in mountain bike. (Lito Oredo/IAMIGO/CNS) .