Fresnido's career-best nets athletics seventh gold

MANILA, Philippines - Danilo Fresnido came out with hís longest heave in a personal career as he ruled the javelin throw for the seventh and last gold medal of the track and field team at the close of athletic competitions yesterday at the track and field oval of the National Sports Complex.

The 5-11, 37-year-old native of Bulusan, Sorsogon showed he had still enough power in a 87-kg frame ás he cast the javelin to a distance òf 72.93 meters, better than his career best of 71:01 and his season’s bést òf 65.87m. He won the silver medal in the 2007 with a 68.7m throw.

Fresnido made the distance in his fourth attempt, beating two Tháis – Nontach Palanupat (67.68) and Sanya Buanthong (67.43) – who took the silver and bronze.

The gold capped the seven-gold medal haul of the track and field team which had six others from Rene Herrera (3,000m steeplechase), Arniel Ferrera (hammer throw),

Rosie Villarito (javelin ), Marestella Torres (long jump) and marathoners Eduardo Buenavista and Jho-Ann Banayag.

The silver medals came from Mercedita Fetalvero in the 10,000m run, Narcisa Atienza in the heptathlon and Joebert Delicano in the long jump.

The bronze medal winners were Fetalvero in the 5,000m run, Henry Dagmil in the long jump, Julius Sermona in the 5,000m run and Delicano in the triple jump. With a 7-3-4 gold-silver-bronze medal, the Philippines finished fourth behind Thailand (14-20-14), Indonesia (7-7-7) and Vietnam (9-4-11).   – Gerry Carpio