Airman rips 12-year-old walk mark

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Air Force’s Michael Embuedo topped the 20-km walkathon in record fashion while two other marks fell in the Milo-National Open Track and Field Invitational Championships at the Don Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen, Pangasinan yesterday.

Embuedo turned in a 1:33.50 clocking in winning the 20-km walkathon gold, eclipsing the 12-year-old record of 1:35.01 set by Sonny Diaz.

“I really wanted to win the gold and make it to the national team. But I didn’t expect to win it in record time,” said Embuedo, 31, in Filipino.

Malaysia-Sandakan’s Nitas Camillus settled for silver in 1:45:28.7 while Jeron Narag took the bronze in 1:48.51, which also broke the 28-year-old junior mark (1:53:37) set by former national champion Armando Ermeo in 1981.

FEU’s Florida Gonzalez also set a new national record in women’s 20-km walk, winning the gold in 2:02.6.

Carmina Bernardino, also of FEU, finished second in 2:12.23 while Navy’s Naomi Aing came in third in 2:14.01.

The old women’s mark was 2:22.03 set by Melinda Manahan in 2001.

Patrick Unso also established a new record late Sunday after winning the 110m hurdles in 15.26 seconds, surpassing the previous best of 15.31 set by Alonzo Jardin in 1994.

Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa) secretary general Ben Silva Netto said Embuedo, Gonzalez and Unso thus clinched berths in the national track team seeing action in this year’s SEA Games in Laos. – With report from Cesar Ramirez