Nationals fail to set new marks

Mainstays of the national team reigned supreme in their respective events but failed to improve existing national records in Day 2 of the Milo National Open International Invitationals at the Rizal Memorial Track and Field Oval.

Eduardo Buenavista, John Lozada, Geralyn Amandoron, Marestella Torres and Joebert Delicano copped the gold in their respective disciplines but failed to make an impact with so-so performances compared with the existing national records.

Buenavista, an Air Force man, towed the field in the men’s 10,000 meters as he timed in 29 minutes and 52.9 seconds, more than a minute and a half ahead of defending champion and 2001 Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games silver medal winner Allan Ballester (31.29.2) and Crisanto Canillo (31.53.5).

Roy Vence, the reigning SEAG gold medalist, was too overwhelmed by Buenavista’s feat that he could only finish fourth with a time of 32.35.8 in the event sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission and Milo.

But the 24-year-old Buenavista’s effort was not enough to erase his own national mark of 29.02.36 he registered in last year’s Busan Asian Games in Korea. Buenavista, however, found a fan in former Gintong Alay chief and Ilocos Norte delegation head Michael Keon.

"If you’re going to ask me, I’d send this guy overseas where he can get the best training, supervision and top-notch competition," said Keon referring to the Kuala Lumpur double gold medal winner from South Cotabato.

Like Buenavista, Lozada ruled the men’s 800 meters with a time of 1.59.99, Amandoron topped the women’s javelin throw with a heave of 43.27m, and Delicano copped the men’s long jump gold medal with a leap of 7.06m.

Torres was the most impressive of the bunch as she crowned herself the women’s long jump queen by pulling off a giant-sized triumph over SEAG silver medalist Lerma Bulauitan-Gabito, who settled for silver after suffering an injury right in her second jump.

Leaping a 6.30m, Torres avenged her loss to Bulauitan, who had a 6.11m leap in last year’s Asian Championships where she had a same jump of 6.40m with the latter but missed on the silver medal after committing more errors.