Herrera bags silver in HK

RENE Herrera will head to the pre-Games training camp of the London Olympics clutching a silver medal from the Hong Kong Intercity Athletics Championships.

Herrera lost the men’s 5,000-meter gold to Korean Mun Jeong-ki, who timed 14 minutes 59.41 seconds in the two-day meet where Filipinos captured two gold and five silver medals over the weekend.

A five-time Southeast Asian Games steeplechase champion, Herrera clocked 15:01.73 with Chinese Taipei’s Li Han-hsuan taking the bronze in 15:37.87.

One of 11 Filipino Olympians in the London Games on July 27 to Aug.12, Herrera will leave for the British capital tomorrow along with long jumper Marestella Torres.

Rosie Villarito struck gold in women’s javelin after hurling the spear to 48.48 meters, beating compatriot Narcisa Atienza (43.68) and Hong Kong’s Lau Hei-tong (36.90).

Atienza found her form in the high jump with a golden performance of 1.73 meters, beating Hong Kong’s Yeung Man-wai (1.68) and China’s Yo Xiaozhen (1.65).

Atienza added another silver in shot put, Edgardo Alejan placed second in the 400m and Loralie Sermona snared a silver in women’s hammer throw (50.23m). June Navarro