Lavandia snares gold in World Masters
ERLINDA Lavandia hurled the spear at 30.58 meters to regain the gold medal in the javelin throw during the 2017 World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships recently at the Blue Arc stadium in Daegu, South Korea.
Lavandia made sure she would reclaim the gold after her silver medal finish last year in the same event held in Perth, Australia with a 30. 28 meters heave.
Kyouko Mukai of Japan settled for the silver with a 27.04meter feat, while Ayush Altantsetseg of Mongolia claimed the bronze (17.69 meters).
With the top podium finish, Lavandia now has seven golds and two silver medals in the WMA . In 2013, she took her sixth WMA gold medal with
a record 39.83 meters in Brazil.
Lavandia is among the seven-man team sent by the Philippine Sports Commission together with Atty. Ma. Carmencita ObminaMuana, Julio Bayaban, Salve Bayaban, Dennis Scott, team manager Rosejean Yparraguirre and Marilou Barrios who served as the team’s medic.
After the WMA, Lavandia is set to join Baguio athletes for the upcoming National Open for Athletics 2017 slated on March 29 to April 2 in Ilagan City, Isabela.
The Baguio squad is set to compete in 27 track-and-field competitions backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association and various local government units.
Lavandia will serve as a playing coach and will be joined in the masters division by bemedalled Philippine Te a m veterans Cristabel Martes, Rene Herrera, Eduardo Buenavista, Julius Sermona, and Edwin Padua.
Competing in the regular division are Louie Agawa, Thryxen Alfonso, Jemyka Alfonso, Clarence Alvar, Dorin Aromin, Baxter Aromin, Cleofe Bagto, Sisa Mae Carunungan, Vinson Ramos, Ceasar Castaneto, Regan Contic, Renan Contic, Ira Mae Gali, Carl Raymart Garcia, Francis Junio, and Dexter Manaois.
Also seeing action in the weeklong competition are Ceilo Penaflor, Rey Mark Quezada, Desiree Tiblac, Marvin Valerio, Patrick Vilchez, Mary Grace Zamudio, Aaron Flores and Danilo Alimbuyao. Flores and Alimbuyao are the playing assistant coach and head coach, respectively.