by Jerome Lagunzad
ILAGAN CITY – Underrated Anfernee Lopena won the men’s century dash in the absence of Fil-American stars Eric Shauwn Cray and Trent Beram on Saturday night in the 2018 Ayala Philippine Athletics Championships at the City of Ilagan Sports Complex here.
With Cray and Beram opting to sit out and mingle with fans in attendance, Lopena, 23, crossed the finish line in 10.91 seconds, edging Muhammad Din Norbik of Sabah Malaysia (11.18) and La Salle’s William Gacerlan (11.23).
“This is some sort of redemption,” said the Tagbilaran City, Bohol native, who figured in a costly passing error of the baton with Cray that led to their disqualification in the men’s 4x100m relay last Thursday.
Lopena’s time, however, pales in comparison to Cray’s national record of 10.23 seconds he set in winning the gold medal in the 2015 SEA Games.
The Philippines is bidding to send relay teams to the Asian Games in August in Indonesia.
In the distaff side, Eloiza Luzon clocked 12.34 seconds to take the gold in the century dash. University of the Philippines’ Jeremiah Malonzo came in at second in 12.61 seconds while comely Ateneo runner Kimberly Zulueta finished third in 12.64 seconds.
Meanwhile, Dasmariñas City Athletics Team’s Veruel Verdedero and Eliza Cuyom continued to assert their dominance in the juniors division of the annual meet sponsored by Ayala Corporation, Milo and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Verdedero, 16, racked up his third consecutive gold after he claimed the boys’ 100m title with a time of 11.16 seconds.
Not to be outshone was Cuyom, who also made herself a golden treble winner by ruling the distaff side in 12.80 seconds, 15-tenths of a second ahead of teammate and reigning Palarong Pambansa MVP Jessel Lumapas.
UP bet Francis Medina topped the men’s 400m hurdles in 52.51 seconds while Robyn Lauren Brown ruled the girls’ side in one minute and 1.8 seconds.
The Diliman-based team also swept the 400m hurdles in the juniors division, with Ferdinand Tridanion topping the boys’ side in 54.93 seconds and Riza Jane Dupalco ruling the distaff in one minute and 4.15 seconds.
