Balauitan: New queen of tracks

Lerma Balauitan crowned herself new queen of the tracks, shattering the 26-year-old Philippine record and snatching the title from a hurting Elma Muros-Posadas in the 2000 Milo Invitational track and field championships yesterday at the Rizal track-football stadium.

Balauitan, from Cagayan Valley, ruled the 100m dash in 11.3 seconds, one-tenth of a second faster than the 11.4 handtime mark set by Amelita Alanes in August 1974 in a local meet in Marikina. The national electronic time record is 11.28 by Lydia de Vega-Mercado in the 1987 Southeast Asian Games.

"I consider this as my best performance because for the first time I defeated Elma (Muros)," said Balauitan.

Muros-Posadas, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, settled for the bronze in 12.3 seconds behind silver medalist Percela Molina of the University of the East (11.9).

"The injury is not an excuse. I am happy because the recovery is fast and we now have somebody to take my place," said Muros. "I might still run if the injury heals so I can guide Lerma, because if I'm not around, the girl might not find enough challenge (to excel)."

Balauitan also snared the long jump title, which was in Muros-Posadas' possession for over a decade, with a leap over a distance of 6.30 meters, 10 centimeters short of her personal best of 6.4m. to become the championship's double gold medalist.

She defeated Vietnam's Nguyen Xuan Truong (5.71) and Morena Gestiada of University of Santo Tomas (5.08m).

Chantal Balani of Cebu City also gained prominence and a place in the national training pool by winning the girls' 100m dash in a national record-tying mark of 11.7 seconds.

More importantly, Balani outclassed her closest rival Marestella Torres of Negros Oriental, the long jump gold medal winner. Torres was second in 12 seconds and Jonah Genilza third in 12.3.

"I'm happy with my performance. I hope I can also win the 200m," said Balani, 17 and daughter of former PBA star Woodrow Balani.

Other gold medal winners: John Lozada (AFP), 800m, 1:50.2; Lin Chin-fu (Chinese Taipei), 400m hurdles, 51.4 sec; Melinda Manahan (Luzon Colleges, Dagupan), 10,000 m walk, 58:06.5; Geralyn Amandoron, women's javelin, 58.4 m; Kamarud Zaman Bakar (Malaysia), 100m dash, 10.5 sec.