Nationals display true worth in PNG athletics

MANILA, Philippines — Narcisa Atienza and Rosie Villarito ruled their pet events at the start of athletics competitions Saturday in the PSC-POC Philippine National Games.

Atienza, who brought home a silver medal in heptathlon from the 2013 Southeast Asian Games, cleared 1.70 meters in the senior women’s high jump while Villarito was unchallenged in keeping her women’s javelin title with a throw of 48.55m under sweltering conditions at the Philsports track and field oval in Pasig City.

“I’m happy with my performance, but I was looking to break the record,” said the 35-year-old Atienza in Filipino.

She set the national mark of 1.81 meters in the same venue on Aug. 14, 2005. Joeann Bermudo of Philippine Air Force placed second (1.60m) and Charrie Catahan of PLDT was third (1.55m).

Villarito, the 2011 javelin SEAG silver medalist, was way off the national mark of 53.75 set by Geralyn Amadoron 13 years ago, but said she could still improve on her winning throw.

Evalyn Palabrica of PAF was a far second (39.66m) while Jenelyn Arle of the University of the Philippines salvaged the bronze in 38.11m.

Long jumper Katherine Santos struck gold in her discipline by clearing 5.87 meters, beating Felyn Dolloso of La Salle-Dasmariñas (5.39) and Jannah Nurul of Swift Athlete Association (5.13).

Long jump queen Marestella Torres was in the stands and was asked to compete but she politely begged off.

Torres, the SEAG record-holder in the event (6.71 meters) during the 2011 SEAG, left the national team before last year’s SEA Games and gave birth early this year.

Baguio City’s Rolly Rebelala ruled the men’s junior discus throw with a heave of 41.25 meters. Carlo Caong of College of St. Benilde finished second (40.35) and Mapua’s Avery Cuyugan earned the bronze (39.19).

Hurdler Eric Cray showed his prowess in the sprints by clocking 10.5 seconds, the top qualifying time in the heats.

Cray, a 26-year-old Filipino-American who owns the national marks in the 110m and 400m hurdles, was just a tad short of breaking the six-year-old record of Ralph Waldy Soguilon (10.45).

Malaysian Maulani Diman joined Cray in the 100m finals with a 10.7-second performance along with Cebu City’s Daniel Noval (10.9).