Old, new of the best shine in Day 1
ILAGAN, Isabela--A pair of up-and-coming national team aspirants and the country’s former marathon queen struck hard even as Christopher Ulboc, Jr. reinjured his right thigh and failed to finish at the start of the 2017 Ayala-National Open Invitational Athletics Championships.
Christabel Martes, the 37 yearold ace runner, came through with the days first gold medal by topping the women’s 10,000m run in 38 minutes, 40.52 seconds and blowing away the field composed mostly of runners almost half her age.
Army’s Jho-an Villarma checked in almost two minutes later in 40:20.58 while Air Force’s Mischell Gilbuena wound up at third in 42:43.75.
Martes’ time, however, was way below the national record of 34:40.3 she herself registered in this same annual event at the Rizal track and field oval 16 years ago.
Although on the verge of retirement, Martes is not discounting the possibility of returning to national team duties and challenging Olympian marathoner Mary Joy Tabal for a spot in the squad bound for the Southeast Asian Games this August in Malaysia.
“If given a chance, why not. Give me time to train, maybe I can do it again,” said Martes, who also takes care of 10-year-old daughter Marriam Sophie back in the City of Pines.
Immuel Camino, who recently won three mints for Arellano U in the NCAA last month, took the 3000m steeplechase gold after Ulboc pulled out. He clocked 9:33.65, besting Jomar Angus’ 9:50.17 and Mapua’s Ike Jumao-as’ 9:54.22.
The 23-year-old Camino then went back to Manila to attend his graduation on Saturday.
“As much as I want to participate in the 5,000m, I have to give that up because my graduation is more important to me,” said Camino.
Ulboc, who initially injured his thigh during training two months ago, said he will try his luck in the Singapore Open next month.
“When I felt pain in the third turn, I decided not to force it anymore because I fear I might aggravate it,” said Ulboc, who will try to clinch his spot in the SEAG-bound squad in the Singapore Open next month.
Albert Mantua, who made it to the national pool last year, heaved a 14.90m to snare the men’s shotput gold, beating Jose Rizal’s Ronmols Andawa (14.14m) and Mapua’s Cris Paulo Haluber (12.13m).
Mantua, 24, though is far from being impressed.
“I need to train more,” said Mantua, a criminology student who is also seeing action in the discus throw on Sunday.
Fil-Am Eric Cray, who owns the current SEAG records in the 100m dash and 400m hurdles, will team up with Anfernee Lopena, Jomar Udtohan and Trentan Beram in today’s start of the 4x100m relay with an eye of eclipsing the national mark of 40.55 set by Arnold Villafuerte, Ralph Soquilon, Albert Salcedo and Henry Dagmil in the 2005 Manila SEAG. “We try to qualify and post a great time and hopefully break Clinton Bautista (left) flashes home as 110m hurdles winner. Above photo shows Christabel Martes the 10,000m run winner. JUN MENDOZA the national record,” said Cray.
Three-time Olympian long jumper Marestella Torres hopes to make it to the SEAG again where she will try to gauge if she should retire or not.
“If I make the SEAG and do well there, I will probably retire after the Asian Games next year and the 2019 SEAG. If not, this year could be my last SEAG,” said Torres, who owns the country’s long and triple jump records.
Meanwhile, Ilagan Councilors Jay Eveson Diaz and Ricky Laggui said they hope to sustain the success of the Southeast Asian Youth Championship it hosted just a couple of days ago.
“We hope to sustain its success in the National Open,” said Diaz, who was also accompanied by PATAFA sec-gen Renato Unso in presscon at the City Hotel.