Diones nails triple jump silver at Asian Athletics C’ships

New Philippine record in men’s triple jump by Harry Diones (left). Photo by June Navarro

Triple jumper Mark Harry Diones is now a force in the continental scene after capturing a silver medal Saturday in the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, India.

The 24-year-old from Libmanan, Camarines Sur jumped 16.45 meters behind the golden effort of China’s Zhu Yaming (16.82m).

Xu Xiao of China likewise registered 16.45m but Diones had a better second best jump of 16.43m compared to Xu’s 16.41m

It was the third medal of Diones in an international meet the past three months after winning the gold in the 2017 Thailand Open last June.

The BS Criminology graduate from Jose Rizal University also topped the Ayala National Athletics Open in Ilagan City last May where Diones reset the national record to 16.70m.

After these feats, Diones is now a strong contender for the gold in the coming Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Ernest John Obiena also made the country proud on Friday after claiming the bronze medal in men’s pole vault, an event usually dominated by China, Japan and South Korea.