Ferrera breaks SEAG mark, leads athletics 3-gold haul

NAKHOM RATCHASIMA – An army man who could have been a priest celebrated his three-year reign as king of the hammer throw by erasing his own Southeast Asian Games record yesterday at the forefront of the Philippines’ three-gold medal haul in athletics in the 24th SEA Games here.

Arniel Ferrera surpassed his own SEA Games mark on his third attempt, improved on that on his sixth and final heave to claim his third SEAG gold since dominating the event in the Vietnam edition in 2003.

Ferrera, 25, hurled the hammer to a distance of 60.79 meters on his third try, breaking the SEAG mark of 60.47 he established in the 2005 Manila SEAG. With his closest pursuers – two Thais and compatriot Jerro Perater – off his mark by at least three meters, Ferrera skipped the fifth try after a foul on the fourth, but went on to improve on his mark on the third try with a throw over 60.98 m.

The silver bronze medalist, Thai Tantipong Phetchaya, managed only 56.47m for the silver, while another Thai Yonglaros Kanju, did 53.57m for the bronze.

Perater, a fellow hurler from Negros Occidental, had a poor 48.90m throw for fourth, having to skip training to attend to a brother’s ailing son, who passed away a week before he left for Thailand.

“Even during our training in Baguio, we already did 60 meters plus. I told him that if he wants to establish a new SEA Games mark, he must do so while he is young and post a record that may not be surpassed long after he has retired,” said his coach Agustin Jarina, the 1987 Jakarta Games champion who now trains national athletes in the field events.

Ferrera was encouraged by a Columban priest to enter the seminary after high school but his family had other plans for the soft-spoken, disciplined teenager.

The priest was his first coach in the javelin and discus, and when the teenaged boy from Meycauayan, Negros Occidental decided not to pursue the priesthood, he concentrated on athletics.

Through discipline and perseverance, the stocky 5-11 athlete, a PAF first class under Lt. Gen. Tolentino, improved his performance every year until he won his first gold in 2003 in Vietnam.

Right after he received the gold in awarding ceremonies, Rene Herrera marched into the podium to receive his gold in the 3000m steeplechase.

Herrera paced the six-man pack from the start before he poured it all on in the final lap to retain his title in the 3,000m steeplechase in a time of 8:54.21.

“There was only a small gap between me and my pursuers but I pulled away for good in the final lap,” said Herrera, who had to use his old 2005 SEAG shoes since he could not break in the new pair issued by the Philippine Sports Commission two days ago.

Thai Patikam Pechsricha was second in 9:02.48 while Vietnamese Van Thang Tran took the bronze in 9:04.74.

Then, before nightfall, Maristella Torres bucked two foul jumps with a do-or-die jump over a distance of 6.31 m to win the gold in the women’s long jump.

Thai Thitima Muangjan was leading the event with a 6.25m jump on her third attempt – with Torres doing only 6.22m – and it all appeared bleak for athletics coach Go Teng Kok, who was watching tensely from the stands, as the Filipina fouled on the fourth try. Torres did 6.08m on the fifth attempt while the Thai made a foul jump. Summoning all the strength her legs and heart could muster, she made the heroic jump to victory.

With three golds, four silvers (Midel Dique, men’s 800m, Mary Grace Milgar 400m hurdles, Julius Sermona 5000m, Rosie Villarito javelin), two bronze (Eliezer Sonag, shotput; Joebert Delicano men’s triple jump), Go said he is satisfied with the performance of his athletes although some could not deliver the gold because of injuries.

He, however, expects more golds today, starting this morning, when Eduardo Buenavista runs in the marathon.