Athletics chief pinning hopes on 8 fancied bets

VIENTIANE, Laos – Athletics chief Go Teng Kok said he could not predict the number of golds his handpicked team of track and field stars would bring home but said they would go for less than the gold in nine events.

Go said eight of his 16-member team are capable of a gold medal based on the Southeast Asian ranking where they topped a 10-member listing from 2007-2009.

“I will resign if they don’t win the gold. I will lose face,” said Go, dropping a hint that national sports association heads should resign if their associations fail to deliver the gold. Tipped to win the gold are Eduardo Buenavista, a former 5,000m and 10,000m runner who will now concentrate on the marathon; Asian long jump champion Marestella Torres, Olympic long jumper Henry Dagmil, hammer thrower Arniel Ferrera, 1,500m run and 3,000m steeplechase bet Rene Herrera, javelin thrower Rosie Villarito, Julius Sermona (5,000m and 10,000m), and 20K walker Michael Embuedo. Dagmil has been hampered lately by a recurring leg injury which caused his disqualification in the recently concluded World Championships where he made three foul jumps.

However, Go said Danilo Fresnido, the 2007 Southeast Asian Games silver medalist and seventh in the Thailand Asian Grand Prix could pull off a surprise.

Other members of the team are Jho Ann Banayag (marathon), Mercedita Fetalvero, Christabel Martes (marathon), Sheena Atilano (100m hurdles), Julius Nierras Jr. (400m), Eliezer Susang (shotput), Joebert Delicano (long jump, triple jump), Junrey Bano (400m, 400m hurdles)and Narcisa Atienza (heptathlon).                             – Gerry Carpio