Mangsat anchors athletics’ 10-gold romp in Thai meet

MANILA, Philippines - Jessa Mangsat dominated the women’s steeplechase to lead the Philippines’ 10-gold, 10-silver and nine-bronze medal feat in the Thailand Open Athletics Championships at the Thamassat University in Bangkok, Thailand recently.

The other gold medal winners for the 43-athlete Phl delegation were Jennyrose Rosales (400m women’s), Arniel Ferrera (hammer throw), Edgardo Alejan Jr. (400m men’s), Evalyn Palabrica (javelin throw), Katherine Khay Santos (long jump), Mary Lyn Avila (400m hurdles women’s), Riezel Buenaventura (pole vault), Mervin Guarte (800m men’s), and Alejan Jr., Archand Christian Bagsit, Julius Nierras, and Isidro Del Prado (4x400 relay men’s).

Josie Malacad (hurdles), Julian Reem Fuentes (long jump), Junrey Bano (hurdles), Rosie Villarito (javelin throw), Harry Diones (triple jump), Reyvieth Penarubia and Ernest John Obiena (pole vault) took home silver medals while Katherine Khay Santos, Princess Joy Griffith, Hanelyn Loquinto, Jennyrose Rosales, Jordan Paul Billones, Nessa Mangsat, and Lorelie Sermona bagged bronze medals.

Heads of delegation Joseph Sy and Lerma Gabito thanked athletics vice chairman Philip Ella Juico for his motivation and generosity, and for inspiring the entire team.

Juico, a former chair of the Philippine Sports Commission, is the current president of the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club and vice chair of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association.

Over lunch he hosted for the whole delegation, Juico asked everyone to pray for PATAFA chief Go Teng Kok, who is recovering from surgery.

Meanwhile, Go said he will personally invite top officials of the IAAF to grace the coming PATAFA polls.