Bulauitan prevails, Ferrera sets mark

Lerma Bulauitan, moving out of the shadow of retired internationalist Elma Muros-Posadas, copped the long jump gold medal in thrilling fashion as action intensified yesterday in the 2002 Milo National Open-Sering Cup Track and Field Championship at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Another RP team member, Arneil Ferrera, shared the limelight with a golden performance in the men’s hammer throw with a heave of 52.14 that eclipsed the seven-year-old national mark of 51.98 set by Agustin Jarina Jr.

Bulauitan needed a stirring sixth and last attempt of 6.46 meters to survive fellow national team mainstay Marestella Torres in a thrilling encounter.

With Torres leading the way with 6.40 meters going into the final try, the 27-year-old Bulauitan unleashed a decisive jump to overcome her closest rival.

Bulauitan duplicated Kuala Lumpur SEAG gold medalist Phan Thi Thu Lan’s performance while surpassing her personal best of 6.43, a performance that earned her the silver medal. However, she failed to shatter the current national mark of 6.56 recorded in the 1997 edition of this same event by Muros-Posadas.

"Medyo mahirap ang labanan kanina kasi hindi ako masyadong nakapag warm-up bago yung mismong laro," said Bulauitan.

Torres, for her part, settled for the silver medal while Vietnam’s Si Nguyen Thi Hong had 6.15 to take the bronze medal.

Ferrera beat Elizerio Sunang of Philippine Airforce (49.51) and Ephraim Ranin of Naga City (34.47) who bagged the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

Under the tutelage of Irish priest and Binalbagan, Negros Occidental-based Fr. Colomn O’Halpin, the 5’11", 21-year-old Ferrera took home the silver medal in the discus throw, losing to a former Chinese team manager.

Ferrera, who made it to the RP squad only last year, finished with 45.65 more than three meters off Enxin Dong of Singapore-based Swift Athletic Association (48.70). Seizing the bronze medal was Ferrera’s Philippine Airforce teammate Mas Nixon (41.50).

John Lozada likewise topped his pet event, the 800-m run, clocking 1:50.08 and beating Sri Lankan S.A.M.R. Bandara (1:55.45) and Jo-Ar Calvadores of Rodriguez, Rizal (1:56.76).