SEAG strongest man hammers another mark

VIENTIANE – Filipino strongman Arniel Ferrera wrote another page in the history of athletics as he dominated the hammer throw for the 10th straight year while Rosie Villarito snatched the gold in the javelin event to put the Philippine athletics team on a winning note at the start of athletic competitions in the 25th Southeast Asian Games yesterday.

Ferrera threw the hammer over a record distance of 61.62 meters as he broke his own SEAG mark for the third straight time. He won the 2001 SEAG event in 51.07m as an 18-year old fourth college student, the 2003 edition in 55.28 and the 2005 Manila SEAG in a new SEAG record of 60.47m. He ripped that mark in 2007 in Thailand with a throw over 60.98 meters.

“ I am very happy all my sacrifices, and the prayers of my family paid off. My wish was to win this event anew in Laos, and hope, through the support of everybody, I could bring my effort to the Asian Games level,” said Ferrera, an Air Force sergeant.

Ferrera, who was to study in the seminary, got the cue to get into athletics because of his athleticism from his first coach, a priest. The 5-10 thrower was later coached by former national athlete Agustin Jarina, gold medalist in the event in the 1981 SEA Games.

The 28-year-old father of a 15-month baby hardly felt threatened in his title retention effort as his shortest throw was not matched by his closest rival from Thailand.

He broke his SEAG record on his fifth attempt.

Villarito heaved the javelin over a distance of 49.69m to win the second gold for jubilant athletics head Go Teng Kok, who was in the VIP seat of the stadium with Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco and POC secretary general Steve Hontiveros of bowling.

Julius Sermona took the bronze in the 5,000m run, while Joebert Delicano also settled for the bronze in the triple jump.

The Filipinas resume their campaign today in the women’s high jump and triple jump, 800m, discus throw and 5000 m run.