DINOMINA nina national team mainstays Mark Harry Diones at Aries Toledo ang kanilang mga katunggali sa Philippine Athletics Championships kahapon sa PhilSports track and field stadium sa Pasig City.
Nagtala si Diones ng 15.60 meters upang mapanatili ang men’s Open triple jump title.
Pumangalawa si Ronnie Malipay sa 5.35m upang mahigitan ang kanyang bronze medal finish noong nakaraang taon, habang pumangatlo si Brendon Ting Li King ng Sarawak Sukma Malaysia sa 14.98m.
“It’s a blessing because this is my first tournament after recovering from the heel injury I sustained in the last (2023) SEA (Southeast Asian Games,” sabi ni Diones, 31, sa isang panayam. “I’m grateful to those who are helping me and keep believing that I can return to competition. I thank God because I can still jump until now, even if I’m getting old.”
Nagtala siya ng national record na 16.70m sa 2017 edition ng torneo na inorganisa ng Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA).
Samantala, naghari si Toledo sa men’s decathlon makaraang makalikom ng 6,348 points.
Tinalo niya sina Allen Roy Mationg ng Pasig City (5,809) at Ronel Juntilla ng Pinoy Athletics (5,247).Nauna siyang nanalo ng silver sa 4x100m relay kasama sina Clinton Kingsley Bautista, Alex Talledo Jr. at Anfernee Lopena.
Si Toledo ay nagwagi ng apat na medalya sa SEA Games — 2 golds (2017, 2019), 1 silver (2021) at 1 bronze (2023).
Nagtala rin siya ng national record (7,469) sa Vietnam (2021).
Samantala, naorasan si Philippine Army’s Richard Salano ng 31:26.82 upang mangibabaw sa men’s 10,000m event laban kina University of the East’s James Darrel Orduna (31:38.21) at Spectrum Runners Team A’s Ricky Organiza (31:42.21).
Ang top three sa women’s division ay sina Team Malaybalay City, Bukidnon’s Christine Hallasgo (37:00.05), Spectrum Runners Team A’s Edna Maglubo (39:46.72) at Bohol Province Track and Field Team’s April Joy Alampayan (39:46.81).
Ang iba pang gold medalists ay sina Thailand’s Hamacham Kojchakorn (women’s U20 hammer throw), Sarawak Sukma Malaysia’s Akmal bin Kifflyza (men’s U20 decathlon) at Masbate’s Prince Charles Branzuela (men’s U18 discus throw).
CLYDE MARIANO
