Ferrera hits golden treble

Arnel Ferrera ruled the boys' shotput event in overwhelming fashion to become the first male triple gold medal winner at the close of the 2000 Milo Invitational Track and Field Championships at the Rizal Memorial Stadium yesterday.

Ferrera made a throw of 12.45 m, short of the 14.64 set in 1993 by Salvador Atienza but it was enough to win the gold and beat University of the East's Rodel Duca (11.37 m) and Iligan City's Michael Von Butahid at (10.97 m).

The 19-year-old six-footer won his first two golds in the boys' hammer throw and discus throw in record-breaking style.

Ferrera, a third year secretarial education student of Binalbagan Catholic College in Negros Occidental, improved the hammer throw national record he himself posted in last year's National Open by five meters with a 47.9m mark Friday before eclipsing the discus throw mark of 42.06 m by Ronald Fetalvero four years back with a distance of 42.06 m.

The other triple gold medallist was 19-year-old MarestellaTorres, from Negros Oriental, in long jump, triple jump and the 4x100 m relay. Balauitan formally took the reins from Elma Muros-Posadas with a gold in the 100 m dash and the long jump. --