Marestella Torres Sunang falls short of Rio 2016 qualification

The Philippines won two golds at the start of the 78th Singapore Open Track and Field Championship on Thursday, April 28 but long jumper Marestella Torres Sunang failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics despite a strong second place finish.

Merwin Guarte ruled the 1,500 meters in a leisurely 4:02.72 to beat Guen Tae Yook of South Korea, who was second with 4:05.39. Rosie Villarito grabbed the javelin throw with a 43.61 meters mark, beating the lone opponent, Asinke Nienke of Wings Athletic Club, who did 31.48.

Sunang, who competed at the 2012 Olympics, leapt 6.40 meters in relegating Asian Games champion Natalia Londa of Indonesia to third. Londa, a multiple-time SEA Games champion, was third at 6.34. Vietnamese Thi Thu Tao Bui won with a 6.59 meters mark.

Sunang, who jumped 6.60 meters in last month’s national open at the Philsports Arena, fell short of the qualifying mark of 6.70 meters. But the Philippine Track and Field Association will be meeting soon to decide how to qualify her using a rule by the International Amateur Athletics Association that allows a country to field a woman athlete if a male athlete had qualified. 

Eric Cray had qualified in the 400-meter hurdles.

“We will request for a woman athlete (for the Olympics). We will ask the Philippine Olympic Committee or International Olympic Committee what is the procedure,” said Renato Unso, secretary general of the track and field association in a text message to Rappler.

The other woman athlete who missed qualifying for Rio was marathoner Mary Joy Tabal who clocked 2:49.01 in the Boston Marathon. The entry time for the Olympics is 2:45.

“We will see if she can run a marathon before July 11, the deadline to meet the criteria. We will reassess,” said Tabal’s coach Philip John Duenas in a text message. – Rappler.com