NATIONAL team coach Danilo Fresnido continues to shine on the world stage, claiming a silver medal in the men’s javelin throw at the World Masters Athletics Championships held late Friday at the Gothenburg Indoor Stadium in Sweden.
Competing in the 50-52 age group, the three-time Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist launched the 700g javelin to an impressive distance of 56.34 meters on his third attempt, good for second place behind Italy’s Carlo Sonego.
Fresnido, a two-time champion of the event in 2016 and 2018, began his campaign with a throw of 51.79 meters in the preliminaries, earning him a spot in the finals, which featured two groups of eight athletes each.
In the finals, his first throw reached 54.18 meters, putting him in second place behind Sonego.
Despite improving his mark with his third and final attempt, he maintained his second-place finish.
Fresnido still holds the Philippine national javelin record with a throw of 72.93 meters, a feat he achieved on December 17, 2009, during the SEA Games athletics event in Vientiane, Laos.
In other results for Team Philippines, Edward Kho finished fifth in Heat 2 of the men’s 50-54 400m hurdles, while Brenda Zinampan reached the semifinals in the women’s 45-49 100m run category of this tournament for athletes 35-years and up.
The Philippines was well-represented by 11 athletes from the National Masters & Senior Athletics Association of the Philippines (NMSAAP), competing from among 1,400 athletes worldwide, including former world champions.
The Filipino contingent consisted of Fresnido (javelin throw), John Aguilar (100m), Severino Alacar (10km and 5km walk), Benigno Marayag (triple jump and long jump), Drolly Claravall (hammer throw and discus throw), Riezel Buenaventura (pole vault), Nhea Ann Barcena (half marathon), Judith Staples (pole vault and discus throw), Kho (400m), Zinampan (100m, 200m, and 80m hurdles), and Edward Obiena (pole vault and discus throw), who is the uncle of world-ranked pole vaulter EJ Obiena.
The team’s participation was supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, represented by Commissioner Olivia “Bong” Coo, and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, along with sponsorship from 5TFA Director Atty. Al Agra, Benjamin Cesar of Asics Corp USA, WristPod, Grace and Abundance Sportswear Tailoring, Unisol, Masiv Sports, Sonak Corporation, EdObee Sports, and PenserQ.
