POOLED REPORT
KITAKAMI CITY, Japan—Danilo Fresnido closed the Philippine campaign in the 18th Asia Masters Athletics Championships here by winning the country’s third gold medal in the javelin throw with a new record to boot on Tuesday.
Fresnido set a new Asian Masters record with his heave of 60.48 meters in the competition for veteran athletes 40-years old, complementing the first gold medal won by Erlinda Lavandia, a legendary figure in the Asian Masters, in the javelin throw event for women 60-64 years old on Monday.
Emerson Obiena also won a gold in the 45-year old men’s pole vault event.
Those three gold medals matched the target set by the very lean team of just 22 athletes whose travel here was made possible through the support of El Lobo Energy Drink, San Miguel Corporation, Petron, Sportscore, L-Time Studio, Soma, Accel , PCSO, PSC and POC.
Team leaders Ariel Paredes and Paul Ycasas dedicated their performance to the departed Manny Ibay, who led the National Masters and Seniors Athletics Association of the Philippines (NMSAAP) to new heights before his death.
The team also won two silver and five bronze medals.
The silver medals were also courtesy of Lavandia in the discus and hammer throws.
The latest bronze medals were from Victorina Calma, Len Punelas, Salve Bayaban and Jeanette Obiena in the 4×100 Meters (W-40) and John Lozada, Julio Bayaban, Emerson Obiena and Edward Kho in the 4×400 Meters (M-40).
