Torres captures Asian GP gold

GEARING up for the London Olympics, Marestella Torres brought home yesterday a shiny gold medal from the prestigious 2012 Asian Athletics Grand Prix.

Torres registered a season-best 6.62 meters in women’s long jump and outperformed India’s Johny Mayookha (6.50) and Indonesia’s Maria Natalia Londa (6.42) in the third and final leg of the continental meet in Chonburi, Thailand, recently.

Asia’s former long-jump queen made up for a dull performance in the second leg—a 6.42 leap that was good for fifth place—following a bronze-medal windup in the opening leg.

“We’re expecting Marestella to further improve in the months leading to the Olympics,” said track and field chief Go Teng Kok.

Torres and steeplechaser Rene Herrera will represent the country in the Summer Games starting July 27.

Henry Dagmil also saved his best for last and nailed the silver in men’s event with a 7.55 leap, second only to the 7.80 of Li Jinzhe of China. June Navarro