FAMILIAR faces went by their usual businesses with ease, but newcomers stole the show in Day 2 of the 2016 Ayala-Philippine National Open Invitational Athletics Championships at the Philsports Track and Field Stadium in Pasig City.
As expected, Southeast Asian Games standout Christopher Ulboc obliterated the field and claimed the gold in the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase in 9:11.79, while the husband of long-jumper Marestella Torres in Eli Sunang ruled the men’s shot put.
Sunang held the lead and kept his hold on it after his first attempt of 15.31 meters, with Albert Mantua taking the silver (15.00) and Malaysian Ronmol Andawa settling for the bronze (13.6) in the trackfest presented by Ayala Corp., and also backed by Milo Nutri-up, Philippine Sports Commission, Foton Philippines, PCSO, Summit Natural Drinking Water, Appeton, Asics Watch, L TimeStudio and media partners Business Mirror, Business Mirror Health and Fitness Magazine and radio station Mellow 94.7.
Leading the charge of the newcomers were promising varsity bets Elbren Neri and Macrose Dichoso, who pulled off huge upset wins against their seasoned rivals.
The 21-year-old Neri, a student from University of Santo Tomas, bucked the challenge posed by Southeast Asian Games silver medallist Mervin Guarte as he clinched the men’s 800-meter run gold.
Neri and Air Force runner Wenlie Maulas eventually took the gold and silver with clockings of one minute, 52.5 seconds, and 1:52.9, respectively.
Guarte, who held on to the lead until the third lap of the last 700 meters, was third in 1:53.31.
“Nahirapan ako kasi 53 seconds ang target ni coach nu’ng first lap (400-meters) pa lang. Eh nag-55 seconds ako,” said Neri, who added he made his goal to beat Guarte after the latter placed second to SEA Games gold medallist DÆ°Æ¡ng Văn Thái of Vietnam last December in the ASEAN School Games.
Meanwhile, Dichoso, an education student from the University of the East, grabbed the early lead before fending off the challenges put up by veterans Christabel Martes and Mary Grace de los Santos to earn the women’s 10,000-meter honors in 39 minutes and 27.7 seconds.
The 22-year-old Dichoso, back from an 18-month layoff after giving birth to her firstborn child, surprised her coach Jojo Posadas, who said no Filipino female runner has gone below 40 minutes ever in seven years in the 10,000-meters, after Martes set the national mark in 2001.
“Humabol si Grace sa last 5000, si Martes naman nu’ng 8000 meters. First time ko sila nakalaban. Masaya, exciting, hindi ako makapaniwala na mananalo ako sa kanila,” said Dichoso.
Martes settled for the silver after finishing 22.7 seconds behind Dichoso in 39.57.9, while De los Santos took the bronze in 40:55.6.
In other results, Fil-American Donovant Arriola cleared 7.48 meters on his sixth attempt in the men’s long jump, beating College of St. Benilde’s Julian Reem Fuentes (7.41)
Another Fil-American in Jessica Lyn Barnard had little trouble taking the women’s 800-meter run in 2:11.65, with Neslee Angco (2:22.9) and Vanessa del Valle (2:23.9) far behind.
Hong Kong’s Tiffany Tang won the girls’ high jump in 1.69 meters, with Jelly Parapile and Kay Mosqueda of FEU settling for the silver and bronze with leaps of 1.66 and 1.63.
Rosie Villarito of Army prevailed in the women’s javelin throw in 45.83 meters, followed by FEU’s Evalyn Palabrica (43.55) and Sarah Diquiran of UST (39.84).
Charlie de la Cruz of Jose Rizal University claimed the boy’s 3000-meter steeplechase in 10:10.03, followed by Fernando Reyes of La Union in 10:18.16.
Junrel Bendoy topped the 10,000-meter walk in 57:49.97, while Krisha Sardenia took the women’s gold in 1:02:58.32.
UST’s Rojon Redoble had 1:55.67 in taking the boys’ 800-meter gold, while schoolmate Louielyn Pamatian reigned in the girls’ action (2:17.35).