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MANILA, Philippines – For some time now, it has been a tug-of-war between veteran long jumper Marestella Torres-Sunang and new coach Joebert Delicano on the best way of recapturing her championship form.
On Thursday, April 7, Torres-Sunang suggested to Delicano that they try her old take-off approach.
Relying on her usual technique, Torres-Sunang soared to her best jump in 5 years with a leap of 6.60 meters to easily retain her long jump title at the start of the National Open Invitational athletic championships at the Philsports track oval in Pasig City.
Buckiing strong, swirling early morning winds, the athlete secured the gold medal on her 4th attempt, merely 10 centimeters short of the Olympic qualifying mark of 6.70 meters and 11 centimeters off her national and Southeast Asian Games record of 6.71 set at the Indonesia SEA Games 5 years ago.
“Sabi ko kay coach Joebert na subukan ko ‘yong dating approach ko, gumanda naman ang talon (I told coach Joebert tht I would try my old approach, and my jump improved),” said Torres-Sunang, who was inspired by the presence of husband Eliezer, a former national team member, and two-year-old son Elimar Macvie on the sidelines.
“He (Delicano) listens to my suggestions now,” she noted. “I believe that we’re getting used to each other.”
Even Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico, who witnessed the athlete’s performance, was impressed by her performance and said, “With a little less weight, she (Marestella) will be able to fly and meet the Olympic qualifying standard.”
Malaysia’s Noor Shahidatun Mohd Zooki took runner-up honors for the silver (6.24) while compatriot Kirthana Ramamsamy (5.80) copped the bronze medal.
Sharing the spotlight on the opening day of the athletic showcase was Filipino-American Caleb Stuart, who handily won the men’s hammer throw in the afternoon despite having only two attempts because he had to rush off to the airport for a flight to the US the same evening.
Stuart’s heave of 61.46 meters was way off his national mark of 68.66 meters and off the 65.63-meter heave he made in winning the gold medal in the 2015 Singapore SEA Games.
Fellow Fil-Am Eric Shawn Cray, the first Filipino athlete to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games, decided not to run the men’s 400-meter hurdles here, citing the lack of preparation for the event.
A double gold medalist in the Singapore SEAG, Cray opted to run in the men’s 4×100-meter and 4×400-meter relays.
With her improved performance, Torres-Sunang, who won 4 straight SEA Games women’s long jump titles from the 2005 Philippine to the 2011 Indonesia editions of the sportsfest, was optimistic that she would be able to meet the Olympic qualifying mark.
“A little more adjustment and I believe that I can make the Olympic qualifying standard,” she said, disclosing that her next competition would be the Singapore Open on April 28.
The athlete is bidding to make her third straight Olympic appearance after representing the Philippines at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Games. – Rappler.com
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