Fresnido claims Perth World Masters Athletics gold

MANILA, Philippines - Danilo Fresnido opened Team Philippines’ campaign in the 22nd World Masters Athletics Championships on a fiery note as he dominated the men’s 40-44 javelin throw competition in Perth, Australia over the weekend.

Fresnido, the current national coach and Phl record holder, flashed fine form and heaved the spear to a distance of 62.30 meters to beat seven rivals for the gold.

Finnish Harri Leivonen placed a distant second with 54.92 meters while Indian Ved Prakash Singh took the bronze with a 52.38m throw.

Also left in the wake of Fresnido’s golden throw were Finnish Sami Salo (50.23m), American Erick Friedman (48.51m), German Markus Paque (47.85), British Graham Lay (44.74m), and Australian Rene Doel (43.78m).

It was sweet redemption for the 44-year-old Fresnido, who only managed the silver in the 2015 edition in Lyon, France.

Four other tracksters look to sustain the charge for the Pinoy delegation, including javelin thrower Erlinda Lavandia, pole vaulter Emerson Obiena, marathoner Lorna Vejano, and Olympian long jumper Marestella Torres-Sunang, who is debuting on the world masters stage.