MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines went six-for-six in the 87th Malaysian Open Track and Field Championships with Asian Games-bound Henry Dagmil leading the Filipinos’ gold medal romp at the National Sports Council training track in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur over the weekend.
Dagmil’s teammates in the Phl squad to the Asian Games, including hammer thrower Arniel Ferrera, steeplechase specialist Rene Herrera, and javelin throwers Danilo Fresnido and Rosie Villarito, as well as hurdler Sheena Atilano, also ruled their respective events.
Ferrera hurled the hammer to a distance of 57.47 meters, beating local bets Jackie Wong (52.3m) and Azman Mohamad (43.72m) for the podium finish, while Herrera clocked 9:00.53 in besting Chinese Taipei’s Wu Wen Chen (9:14.15) and Ho Ching Ping (9:18.59).
Fresnido heaved 63.87 meters in topping Malaysia’s Mohd Bakri Hamid (58.85m) and Sjn Josmon Justin (56.04m) as Villarito threw 48.79 meters in dominating HLND Lekamge of Sri Lanka (44.46m) and Kazakhstan’s Ravaeva Asiya (42.93m) in the javelin throw.
Atilano, who joined the crew to Malaysia after Guangzhou-bound long jumper Marestella Torres begged off, did her part by winning the 100m hurdles in 14.26 seconds over Malaysia’s Raja Nursheena (14.66) and Nur Fazlinda Shafie (15.30)
The Filipinos’ outputs were off their personal bests but coach Joseph Sy said the coaching staff is confident they will reach their peak in the Asiad’s athletics competitions slated Nov. 21-26.
“The real focus is the Asian Games and we’re confident all of them will improve there. They’re on the right track to break their own personal records in Guangzhou,” said Sy, who accompanied the athletes in the 14-nation trackfest that served as their final tuneup for the Asiad.