Lady boxer rules javelin; Herida wins 100m dash

Annie Albania, who shot to prominence for halting the Thai boxing juggernaut in the SEA Games last year, and collegiate sensations Romnick Herida and Eliezer Sunang shared the spotlight yesterday in the Milo national track and field open at the Rizal oval yesteryday.

But another SEAG heroine, Mercedita Manipol, the RP 5,000-meter record holder, succumbed to her Korean foe in a stunning reversal in the second day of action at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Albania, who revisited an old love – athletics, took enough time to train in javelin and prevailed with a throw of 35.16 meters, besting Far Eastern U’s Jenece Alvarado and Ateneo de Manila’s Mica Sibayan.

Albania, representing Terry Capistrano’s TMS Ship Agencies who competed for University of the East under Elma Muros-Posadas before switching to boxing, snatched a bronze in long jump in Thursday’s opener of this event backed by the Philippine Sports Commission.

“I used to cross-train in athletics so why not compete in this event, I’m happy I won,” said Albania, who had to ask permission from RP boxing coach Roel Velasco before joining the trackfest.

The 20-year-old Herida of FEU emerged the meet’s fastest man as he ruled in the 100m dash in 10.87 seconds, outclassing RP team member Arnold Villarube of TMS and Anthony Santillan of Cebu City, who came in second and third in 11.08 and 11.17 for the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

“I’m happy I won because I really worked and prepared hard for this event,” said Herida, coached by Rosito Andaya and Jojo Posadas who captured six gold medals in the PRISAA Games a month back in Zamboanga.

Sunang topped the shot put event in 15.61 to conquer a pair of standouts—Nixon Mas and hammer throw Southeast Asian Games record holder Arnel Ferrera. Mas threw more than a meter behind Sunang with 13.93m while Ferrera posted 13.49m.

Sunang’s effort came nearly a quarter of a meter off the 35-year-old RP record of 15.83 owned by Bruce Ventura

Korean Min Jung Choi, in contrast, clocked 17:05-02 to overpower Manipol, who could only manage a second place finish in 17:42.98 in the 5,000-m run

Manipol, who started out with a pair of gold medals in 3,000m and 10,000m in Day 1, went toe-to-toe with Min in the first seven laps before the latter broke loose in the final six laps to cruise to victory.

RP mainstays Rene Herrera, Joebert Delicano and Julius Nierras, Jr. restored order by coasting to easy triumphs in their respective events.

Herrera copped the 3,000m steeplechase gold in 9:06.09, Delicano ruled the long jump in 7.31m while Nierras handily posted best times in the preliminary heats of 200m (22.53) and 400m (49.56) to close in on a pair of golds

Two potential talents – Isidro del Prado Jr. of College of St. Benilde and Jami-Dawn Henares of Bacolod City – also unleashed stirring efforts.

The 17-year-old Del Prado, son of Gintong Alay hero Isidro del Prado, had the best clocking after the 400m semifinals in 50.37 while Genares, a star in last year’s Visayan Leg of the Philippine Olympic Festival, was atop the 400m semis standings in 1:01.55.