Torres eyes third straight Olympic stint at Asian tilt

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Marestella Torres gets the chance to qualify for her third successive Olympics in Rio de Janeiro when she competes in the 19th Asian Masters Athletics Championships on May 4 to 9 in Singapore.

The former Asian long jump queen and current Southeast Asian Games record holder hopes to reach her performance peak a week before the continental qualifier, according to Philippine Masters Athletics Association coordinator Paul Ycasas.

Torres turned 35 last Feb. 20 and is eligible to join the Masters, an IAAF-sanctioned tournament for former national athletes.

“Marestella’s performance here will be official since the Asian Masters is sanctioned by the IAAF,” said Ycasas.

Torres, who also saw action in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics, will qualify for Rio de Janeiro if she tops the Olympic qualifying standard of 6.70 meters in Singapore’s National Stadium.

Her previous results weren’t encouraging, though, for a jumper who boasts a Philippine-best 6.71m which she set in 2011.

Slowed by motherhood, she registered 6.41m in last year’s Southeast Asian Games in Singapore and settled for the bronze medal.

Torres missed serious competition in the recent Philippine National Games in Lingayen, Pangasinan, and leaped 6.13m.

Torres will spearhead the PH campaign in the Asian Masters along with former SEA Games gold medalists Arneil Ferrera (throwing events), Jobert Delicano (long jump), Rene Herrera (3,000m steeplechase) and Lerma Bulauitan-Gabito (100m, 200m and long jump).