Elma, Lerma jumpstart Phl bid in Taipei

TAIPEI – The most recognizable faces from Team Philippines made quick and easy victories in two age divisions of the century dash, the premier events in the 17th Asia Masters Athletics Championships which opened yesterday at the Taipei City  Sports Park.

Elma Muros-Posadas, half of the one-two punch of Philippine athletics with long-retired Lydia de Vega-Mercado in the 1980s-90s, silenced the crowd with a gold medal performance in the 100-meter dash for women 45-49 years old.

She clocked a decent 13.87 seconds and was several strides past runner-up Marina Semenkova of Kazakhstan (14.04) and third placer Prasad Sachidnad Minoti of India (14.80).

Two other Filipinas have made the final of the event after posting impressive performances in their heats, with Perla Lobos finishing sixth, and Salve Bayaban checking in at eighth.

“Medyo alalay lang po muna,” said Muros-Posadas, adding: “Entered pa tayo sa iba pang events. Ibubuhos natin lahat para sa target natin na gold medals.” She will still play in four more events until Wednesday.

Her performance punctuated the Philippines’ propitious start in this tournament for veteran athletes where the national delegation is targeting a modest haul of at least 10 gold medals.

Lerma Bulauitan-Gabito, meanwhile, proved herself as Muros-Posadas’ equal when she won the country’s other gold medals in the 100-m race for women 35-39 years old.

Bulauitan-Gabito clocked 13.01 seconds in her gold medal feat, leaving a long shadow on her pursuers Sunita of India (14.39) and Bernice Lau Kam Mun of Malaysia (14.71).

Delegation head and National Masters and Seniors Athletic Association of the Philippines (NMSAAP) president Manny Ibay rated the team’s first day performance as “well within target” as the winners already received a congratulatory message from Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richie Garcia, who helped fund the top eight Philippine entries in this competition. Other entries paid for themselves.

“We are elated with the initial news coming from Taipei. We hope the team will be able to reach its target and we are praying for it,” said Garcia.

Two silver medals from John Lozada and Aurora Ramos also propped the Philippines’ campaign.

Lozada clocked two minutes, 5.63 seconds as he placed second to Endo Atsushi of Japan (2:00.38) in the 800-meter race for men 35-39 years old, while Ramos gave eventual winner Tse Wah Sau of Hong Kong (14.55) a scare when she clocked 14.68 in the 100-m dash for women 50-54 years old.