Lopez delivers gold, Echavez silver for PHL in Arafura Games

CEBU, Philippines - Veteran runner Mendel Lopez handed won gold and bronze, while swimmer Loren Dale Echavez came up with a silver at the end of the 2011 Arafura Games in Darwin City, Australia.

Lopez topped the men’s 10,000m run before ending up with a bronze in the half-marathon.

Lopez finished the 10,000m race in 33 minutes and 51.19 seconds, beating Papua New Guinea’s Kupsy Bisamo ((33:52.59). The bronze went to Australian Defense Organization’s Richard Gardiner with a 33:56 clocking.

Gardiner, however, avenged his loss to the Cebu-honed Lopez by dominating the half-marathon with the time of one hour, 11 minutes and 42 seconds. His teammate Anthony Craig settled for the silver in 1:11.48 followed by Lopez in 1:12.17.

Echavez, for her part, claimed a silver in the girls 17 100m freestyle event in long course competition.

Hannah Dato grabbed the gold with the time of 1:00.71, while Echavez posted 1:00.76. Another Pinay in Roanne Florence Yu got the bronze with a 1:02.14 clocking.

Dato was actually unstoppable in Australia’s Northern Territory as she seized six golds, one silver and one bronze.

Overall, the Philippines wrapped up its campaign with 27 golds, 15 silvers and 11 bronzes, a lot better than the country's measly 3-4-15 medal haul during the 2009 edition of the biennial sports conclave. — THE FREEMAN