Veterans stamp mark in RP Open

A national team mainstay and an aspiring teacher made their presence felt right on opening day, posting impressive victories yesterday at the start of the 2002 Milo National Open-Gov. Sering Cup at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Southeast Asian Games veteran Narciza Atienza dominated her pet event, the women’s high jump, while upcoming Erick Tauro of Occidental Mindoro copped the first gold medal in the boys’ 10,000-m walk.

Atienza, one of the fancied athletes with a strong chance of making the Busan Asian Games-bound RP team, made a winning jump of 1.75 m, 25 centimeters higher than the 1.5 of silver medal winner Roche Dayao.

A science student of University of Santo Tomas, Atienza also shattered the 1.74 mark she registered in winning the silver in last year’s Kuala Lumpur SEAG.

Tauro, a third year education student of the University of the East, timed 53:17.8 in the 10,000-m walk. Saudimar Diaz of Laguna Best settled for the silver medal (55:31.7) and Jeffrey Laporga of Nueva Vizcaya the bronze (56:31.1).

Asian Games-bound Eduardo Buenavista won the 3,000-m steeplechase with ease but failed to make an impact as he clocked 8:50.30, 10 seconds off the personal best he registered in the Kuala Lumpur SEAG.

Also making a dent in the morning races was former national campaigner Sonny Diaz, who ruled the men’s 20,000-m walk with a time of 1:42:30.9. Harry Canillo (1:42.41.5), Diaz’s teammate, and Michael Embuedo of Philippine Air Force B (1:47.39.1) came in second and third places, respectively.

Xianhui Du, former member of the mighty Chinese squad and now with the Singapore-based Swift Athletics Association, made his mark in shot put where he surpassed the current SEAG record of 17.85 by Jutaphon Krasaeyon of Thailand with an 18.58 effort, beating teammate Zhang Guirong (17.90) and Krasaeyon (17.02).

Other morning winners were SCFTA-South Cotabato’s Maricel Sibog (girls’ long jump), John Lumebao of Ilocos Norte (boys’ javelin) and Emilio Lim of Ateneo (boys’ pole vault).