Marestella Torres’ Asiad bid derailed in Vietnam

Rising Vietnamese long jumping ace Bui Thi Thu Thao derailed former Asian champion Marestella Torres’ bid to qualify to the Asian Games with a classy performance at the 2014 Ho Chi Minh Vietnam Open track and field championship on on Friday, July 26.

Bui leapt 6.46 meters, a big improvement over her 2013 Southeast Asian Games third place finish of 6.16 meters. 

Torres, weakened by a urinary tract infection, limped home in second place with 6.14 meters. 

Track and field statistician Andrew Pirie cited the meet’s official results in providing the name. 

Philip Juico, who assumed the presidency of the Philippine Track and Field Association earlier Friday, told Rappler.com in a text message that Torres “was urinating blood up to Monday, four days before her event.”

Many-time Southeast Asian Games champion Rene Herrera and Christopher Ulboc, who dethroned him in the 2013 event, finished 1-2 in the 3,000m steeplechase. Herrera clocked 9:14.95 followed by Ulboc in 9:20.42. 

Torres’ husband, Elizer Sunang, heaved the shot 15.70 meters to finish fifth. Clinton Bautista qualified for the final in the 400-meter dash, which Isidro del Prado Jr failed to achieve.

Torres, who gave birth earlier this year, had jumped 6.26 meters in Hong Kong last month and was considered to have good chances to met the 6.37 meters qualifying standard for the Asian Games. 

Juico said the final chance for the 33-year-old Torres to make it to the Philippine Asian Games squad is on August 3 at the weekly relays at the Philsports oval in Pasig.

“That is her last, if she is to be funded by the PSC (Philippine Sports Commission). We’re willing however to get funding for her outside the PSC is she doesn’t do (it) on Aug. 3,” said Juico.

Juico said Torres “remains one of our brightest prospects for a medal in Asian Games this September.” – Rappler.com