Unso, US teener share athletics honors

MANILA, Philippines - Patrick Unso dominated the field to win the boys 110-meter hurdles and share Day One honors with a young American middle distance runner and a throng of national pool members yesterday at the start of the 2010 Milo-National Open track and field championship at the Rizal Memorial track oval.

Unso claimed the gold with a time of 14.76 seconds. Gringo Bautista of Virgin of Milagrosa Foundation (15.11) and Dharl Pitogo of Cebu City (15.15) checked in second and third, respectively.

American Ashley Shaley Jones, 17, who was in the country on holiday, topped the women’s 800m run against some of the best local distance runners.

She submitted a time of 2:18.82, over five minutes ahead of silver medalist Merrey Gabali of Sandakan and bronze medal winner Divine Grace Tapit of Los Baños (2:29.53)

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco graced the inaugurals of the three-day event sponsored by Milo, Islander, TMS Shipping Lines and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Meanwhile, developmental pool mainstay Rhemilyn Soriano snatched the gold in the 100-m run in 12.65 seconds, beating Hanelyn Loquinto of FEU (12.78) and Agnes Gacusan of Bulacan State U (12.90).

Katherine Khay Santos won the long jump for women (5.27m), over one meter behind the existing national record of Marestela Torres who skipped the event to focus on her training for the Asian Games.

 Other gold medal winners were Mary Jane Miano in women discus (33.94), Mervin Guarte in boys 5000m (15:08.2), Mendel Lopez in men’s 5000m (15:15.9), Jessa Mangsat in girls 3000m steeplechase (12:07.8), Mary Ann Dela Cruz in women’s steeplechase (12:23.1), Narcisa Atienza in women’s high jump (1.70), and Riezel Buenaventura in pole vault (3.63).