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Renato Unso ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ who shattered the national record.
The Philippines enjoyed a fabulous streak in the early 80s at SEA Games with three 400 Hurdlers in 1981 Grafillo, 1983 Unso and 1985 Arnillo claiming the 400 Hurdle crown. It was Renato Unso who at these games would set the undisputed Philippine Record of 51.26 which till this day remains untouched.
Unso was born 25th of April 1957 orphaned at the age of nine he overcame poverty. In fact, it was poverty and its many challenges that molded him to become a Sea Games gold medalist, teacher, motivational speaker and formerly as Dean of Human Kinetics of the PUP.
He won the 1978 Palarong Pambansa Tertiary 110 Hurdles in 15.5 but finished second in the 400 Hurdles to Angelito Aguilar who went onto set a meet record later on (54.6 to 55.2).
Jose Unso at the 1983 SEA Games in Singapore
Gintong Alay Coach Tony Benson said Unso had the makings of a world class hurdler. However in Manila it seemed Unso cracked under the pressure of a home crowd.
At his first SEA Games in 1981 Unso finished last in the 110 Hurdles final, he was credited with a very fast 14.5 hand timed in the heats which may have seen him close to a medal in the final if he had the same type of run. He won the second heat of the 400 Hurdles in 53.32 beating Nyan Chong-Jong of Malaysia. In the final he finished fourth and just 6/100th outside a medal in fourth in the 400 Hurdles with a time of 53.46. Team mate Grafilo won the race going onto set an electronic Filipino National Record at 52.19, with Chong-Jong taking Silver.(*The best mark at that time was Abdul Guipaur hand-time from 1974 of 51.8).
Unso was given the label of ‘The Heartbreak kid’ by news reporters. “Oh yes i remember i went under instead of over. I was a certainty that lost” he later told a reporter.
“I cannot forget that season, but my mind was never set on it then.” he said of 1981 SEA Games.
At the Palaro open division in 1982 in 15.4 aswell as the 400 Hurdles in 54.4. Later that year Unso would break through to his first international win at the ASEAN Cup winning the 400 Hurdle title. He returned a different athlete at the next SEA Games.
Leading upto the SEA Games Unso clocked 52.01 at the National Championships erasing the National Record set by Jaime Grafillo.
At these games he won heat 1 of the 110 Hurdles beating Heru Prayogo of Indonesia with the fasest qualifying time of 14.80. However in the final in a hairline finish Prayogo took the gold 14.75 to 14.76. Unso time of 14.76 however broke the nine year old National Record of Marcelo Benauro and stood until 1997.
The greatest race of his career would come in a superb 400 Hurdles final where he led from start to finish .
Unso recorded a time of 51.26 to win the 1983 SEA Games in Singapore which until this day is the National Record 30 years on, this would be the last time Unso would compete at the SEA Games.
After the 1983 Asian Championships Unso decided to retire early at the age of 26 after tearing his hamstring in Kuwait. “Im not even going to go back to running.” “Last Weeks Asian Champs was my swan song”. He took up a role with the Gintong Alay as a coach “Now ill just worry about passing on my knowledge to youngsters coming into the Gintong Alay scheme”
Unso did however make a return at the 1986 ASEAN Track and Field Champs in Singapore with bronze in the 110 Hurdles in a time of 15.21.
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sources:
various old newspapers
sea games results
gbr athletics
Fortunato Catalon the King of Filipino Sprinters
Article by Pirie Enzo from various sources
During the early dawn of Filipino Sports emerged are first great sprint champion Fortunato Catalon.
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Early Begginings
Catalon was born in 1897 in Leyte, he hailed from a farming family from the interior of the island of Leyte. He failed in his first attempt to make his Tacloban school track team during the Eastern Visayas athletic meet held in Cebu Province, and was relegated to the kitchen as a cook’s helper in order to cover his expenses. Catalon was a high school student from the age of 20-24 according to news sources.
The little Filipino continued his training and the next year made the district team in the inter-district meet. His showing here was a good and he was given a second chance to make the provincial team. This time he did not disappoint his coach winning the 100 and 120 events.
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The Far East Asian Champion
The Little man who was known as ‘The King of Filipino Sprinters’ representing what was then known as ‘The Philippine Islands‘ Catalon would win the 100 Yard Title at the Far Eastern Games four times from 1917 until 1923. And when the distance was lengthened to the 100m won that title as well in 1925. In 1923 Catalon was the sixth fastest man in the world over 100 yards (91m) in 9.8s. Catalon was described by the great American sprinter and 1920 Olympic Champion Charlie Paddock while he was visting the Philippines, as “The Champion of Champions”.
It was not however until 1917 when he won permanent recognition as a sprinter.At the Far East Asian Games in the 100 yards Catalon awon his heat in 10.2, defending champion Nicolas Llaneta also of the Philippines was the fastest qualifier in 10.0. In the final no wind assistance was present and on May 9 Catalon took the first of the twelve gold medals (9 individual and 3 relay) that he was destined to win at the Far Eastern Games. Catalon also took the 220 yards in 23.8.
In 1919 (13 May) Catalon won his heat in 10.2, however Madono of Japan was the fastest qualifier in 10.0. Between the heats and the final of this event Madono beat Catalon in the preliminaries of the 220 yard dash and it was clear that the Filipino would be hard pressed to retain his title. However he overcame these nerves to equal the games record in 10.0. Catalon retained his title in the 220 yards, despite Madono of Japan being the fastest in the heats in a Games Record of 22.8. Catalon won in 23.0.
In 1921 (31 May) Catalon retained his 100 yard title easily to equal the games record in 10.0. Kaga of Japan who has competed at the Antwerp Olympics who was the favorite faded to third. Catalon defended his 220 yard title with 23.2.
An example of a 220 yard straight track. 220 yards is about 200-201m. Two things different in these days of Catalon. The track was a straight 220 yards and it was also on a grass surface.
In 1923 (22 May) Catalon and Tani of Japan won there heats in 10.4 and 10.4. In the final , Catalon and Tani were the slowest but by the half-way mark the stocky Filipino had drawn a yard clear of the field. Catalon increased his lead to a clear yard at the tape with Takagi finishing ahead of Omura and Tani his fellow Japanese. Tajima finished a distant fifth. A number of unofficial time keepers claimed that Catalon should have been credited with at least 10.0 and two spectators stopped their watches at 9.6. His winning time this year was 10.4. The track was also apparently according to reports heavy and muddy and slow.
Catalon and Omura of Japan were the fastest qualifiers in the 220 yard heats both with 22.6. The event was much faster than 1921 with silver medalist Castillon (PHI) eliminated. Omura was thought by the Japanese to be the one to beat Catalon but it was his countryman Takagi, who closed rapidly on the defending champion in the closing stages, who provided the most serious threat. Catalon succeeded in holding off the challenge winning in 22.2 and reached the tape with a yard to spare. The soft track is said to have nullified the advantage of the following wind.
In 1925 the metric 100m was introduced to replace 100 yards (91m), this was also the last appearance of 4 time champion Catalon who was now 28 years old. Catalon won his heat in 11.0, but new Filipino athlete David Nepomuceno had emerged to take the fastest qualifier in 10.8. Times in the semi-final were slower with Rivera (PHI) 11.5 and Nepomuceno (PHI) 11.1 respectively. In a closely fought final Catalon who had finished third in the second semi-final, triumphed for the fifth consecutive time. However, photographic evidence suggests that he was perhaps fortunate to be given the verdict over Nepomuceno.
In the 200m it was Nepomuceno who ended the streak of Catalon winning in 22.5, with Catalon taking silver..
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Life after the Far East Asian Games
1925 was the last appearance for Catalon. Catalon, for all his fame, is remembered by the 1950s generation as a “generous starter”. he was the starter when genaro cabrera jumped to an early lead in the 100 asian games final in 1954. (from Ignacio Dee)
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Sources:
The Border Cities Star, July 23, 1923
A Handbook of Far Eastern & Asian Games Track & Field Athletics, Ian Buchanan ATFS 1973 (kindly provided by Mr Jad Adrian Washif ATFS Malaysia & SEA Athletics)
Muros wins one of several golds at the Asian Masters
For the average person on the street who does not know much about Track and Field they probably still think that Lydia De Vega Mercado and Elma Muros Posadas are still in the national team. However Posadas is still keeping actively in between her coaching at UE by competing at Masters level athletics. Muros who was carrying an injury won the 100m in 13.87. The 45 year old UE Coach who has not competed for several years battled through this to win the gold medal for the Philippines once more.
A table of Legendary Female Athletes
The woman who succeeded Muros as SEA Games Champion in 2003, National Coach Lerma Elmira Gabito debuted in the M35 division. The 38 year old won the 100m and her winning leap of 5.50m in the Womans Long Jump was good enough to be ranked #5 in 2012 against athletes a decade or more younger. Gabito effort was a games record for W35.
Erlindia Lavandia who was the SEA Games Javelin Champion from 1977 to 1981, and 1985. Won the gold medal in the W60 Javelin and also in the Shotput
Victorina Calma won silver in the 800/1500m W35.
National 800m Record Holder John Lozada collected two silvers in the Mens 800/1500m event for Mens 35. While Antonio Chee improved his personal best to 3.80m to capture the silver in the M35 Pole Vault.
Brothers Emerson and Edward Obiena took Gold and Silver in the Pole Vault. National Coach Emerson at 48 years of age is still the defending nationa champion in that event although he didn’t jump so well here as he was carrying an injury.
In the M55 division former national hurdler Arnel Lobos was third in the Mens 100 Hurdles. National Coach Agustin ‘Danny’ Jarina won the bronze in the Mens Hammer. Aurora Ramos finished with silver in W50 100m.
Making her debut at Veteran Level was National Coach Lerma Gabito
Full results can be found here
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Muros-Posadas leads PH track squad
Written by Cecil C. Noguera from the Manila Times
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Elma Muros
(Nov 2) The country’s seasoned tracksters are all set to compete in the 17th Asian Masters Athletics Championships scheduled on November 2 to 7 at the Taipei City National Stadium in Taiwan.
With the presence of long jump queen Elma Muros-Posadas, pole vaulter Emerson Obiena and thrower Erlinda Lavandia in the lineup, the Philippine delegation is looking to earn at least 10 gold medals.
“We are optimistic of our chances since we really have a strong lineup for this event,” said National Masters and Seniors Athletic Association of the Philippine chief Manny Ibay.
Muros-Posadas won a total of 15 golds medals during her stint in the Southeast Asian Games. She also claimed gold medal in the 2011 World Masters held in Sacramento California along with Obiena and Lavandia, who also topped their respective events.
Joining them are Elenita Punelas, Lerma Bulauitan-Gabito, Antonio Chee, Agustin Jarina, Arnel Lobos, Aurora Ramos, Cornillo Villarta, Edward Obiena, Helen Castillo, John Lozada, Jose Ang, Julio Bayaban, Lorna Vejano, Maria Jeanette Obiena, Margarito Banigued, Nenita Leal, Perla Lobos, Ray Prestoza, Renato Fontanilla, Reynaldo Tomas, Roel Ano, Rosejean Yparraguirre, Salve Bayaban, Victoria Calma and Wilfredo Adiaz.
“These athletes were victorious during their times and we’re thankful that they’re still there competing, giving honors to our country,” said Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association President Go Teng Kok.
28 countries more have confirmed attendance in the six-day meet with 25 events to be disputed in different age-groups.
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http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/sports/top-sports-news/34353-muros-posadas-leads-ph-track-squad
We also had talk about possibly bringing back even more ‘Legends of the Past’ to the PNG.
Related articles
- Elma Muros the SEA Games Heptathlon Queen (pinoyathletics.com)
- Thelma Movie review feat Elma Muros
Amelita Alanes our Third Great Women Sprint Champion
The Philippines had a very rich tradition of Asian Women Sprint Champions starting with Inocencia Solis in the 50s and then Mona Sulaiman in the 60s. After Sulaiman, some time passed before a stocky teenager born in La Carlota, Negros Occidental on February 28 1952, emerged to become the countries next Sprint Queen. Sulaiman whose career ended in controversy in the late 60s departure left a huge gap in women’s sprinting. Alanes was the most dominant female sprinter of the 1970s and held all three sprint records during that time. A much more compact sprinter than the muscular Sulaiman at 5’2 and 50kg she had the similar build to Solis.
Because sometimes History repeats itself: Asian Sprint Champion Amelita Alanes on the right compared to a modern day sprinter from Bacolod.
ASIAN GAMES 1970
Alanes recorded a time of 11.9 seconds in the heats which at the time was a Filipino Junior Record for two years until it was broken by Lucila Salao (11.6 secs). However in the finals Alanes could only manage fourth in a time of 12.4 seconds.
The Asian Record Holder Chi Cheng won the race in 11.6 seconds. With the absence of the World Record Holder (Chi Cheng of Taipei) who pulled her thigh muscle in the heats. The final was very open, 18 year old Alanes came off the bend with a useful lead but the 17 year-old Keiko Yamada of Japan overhauled the Filipina in the straight and took the gold medal in a race which was much closer than the recorded times suggested of 25.0 and 25.2. Alanes 200m time stood as the Philippine Junior Record for eleven years when it was shattered by 17 year old Lydia De Vega in 1981 with a record of 23.54 that has stood for 31 years now.
They also finished fifth and last in the 4x100m relay with S. Ordoyo, A. Bustamante, L. Salao.
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1972-1974
At the National Games in Davao in what was a quick but classed as an invalid performance (reasons are not known it was noted by Col. Constantino that this performance was doubtful), Alanes won the National title in 23.6 seconds, from Aida Montawell 24.1 seconds.
At Marikina Alanes took the Filipino Womens Record to 56.4 which she held until 1981. So for most of the seventies she held all three sprint records.
At the age of 20 Alanes at the Munich Olympics Alanes ran the 100,200 and 4x100m her relay team mates were Aida Mantawell, Lucila Salao and Carmen Torres where disqualfied and did not advance. This would be her only Olympic Games. Alanes timed 12.37et and was eliminated in the heats of the 100m. However in the 200m she timed 25.28et in the heats placing fourth and advanced to the quarter finals running 24.98et where she was eliminated.
In 1973 Alanes won the gold medal at the Asian Track and Field Championships in Manila winning in a time of 11.6 seconds (wind aided) , she timed 25.0 seconds in the 200m to win the silver medal. Alanes had clocked a windy 24.0 and 24.4 in the pre rounds ?
Alanes best time of 11.4 was established in Marikina at the National Games in 1974. And at that time was the national record which took De Vega until 1985 to eclipse (11.53) and eventually better to the current mark of 11.28 by 1987.
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End of an Era
Active through out most of the seventies Alanes nearing the end of her career now competing under her married name of Saberon was now only part of the relay at the 8th Asian Games in 1978 which managed to collect the Bronze medal. (Alanes, Salao, Mantawel (or Torres?), Morcilla).
Alanes eventually gave way to a group of sprinters with the main one Lorena Morcilla who was the most dominant sprinter in the Philippines from 1979-1981 until a talented teenager came of age from Bulucan by the name of Lydia De Vega. Lured out of retirement at the age of 28 she went up against the upcoming youngster who beat the veteran in all three sprints.
Related articles
- The Age of the Inocencia – The First Great Filipina Sprint Champion (pinoyathletics.com)
- Mona Sulaiman – first woman to win 100/200m double at Asian Games (rev 1) (pinoyathletics.com)
- Josephine de la Vina and her Untouched Discus Records (pinoyathletics.com)
- Fortunato Catalon the King of Filipino Sprinters (pinoyathletics.com)
Josephine de la Vina Untouched Discus Records (rev 1)
This week we will look at the Philippines Women’s Discus record. I would like to welcome all the the story behind the countries greatest ever female thrower as she is inducted into Pinoyathletics ‘Legends of Track and Field’.
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Fil-Heritage Origins
Born in Cebu on April 15, 1946. Josephine de la Vina would go onto set a legacy in Philippine Athletics that has not been matched. She got her earliest contact to sports playing first base for the softball team of Labangon at Cebu Elementary school. Becoming part of the CIT (Cebu Institute of Technology) where promising athletes were properly developed. ‘Big Jo’ as she became known due to her height at 6’0 was exceeding tall for a Filipina especially in those days, would excel in Shotput, Discus and Javelin.
Jo recalled
“Every time I’d win in an international meet, tears would fill my eyes when the Philippine tri-color was hoisted and the band played the National Anthem. Although my father is Mexican I believe I should remain a Filipino. I am proud to be one.”
.De la Vina the countries greatest ever female thrower at the height of her powers in the 1960s and 1970s
Dela Vina was at the height of her powers in the 1960s and 1970s.
Judging on the age of some first sea games participants (Lydia was 15 and Elma 14 when they debuted for the Philippines in relays) it wouldn’t be out of the question to think De la Vina might have competed in the SEA Games in 1961 in Rangoon or then known as the SEA Peninsula Games.
(It has been noted that the Philippines was not a part of the SEA Peninsula Games so Dela Vina did not participate in this meet)
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The National Junior Record in Discus
At then 16 years of age de la Vina competed at her first ever Asian Track and Field Championships winning the bronze in 37.79m which was then a Senior and national junior record. It was two years later at the Tokyo Olympics de la Vina then aged 18 would throw 42.27m further improving these marks.
“We verified from our 1965 National Open Championships results in Manila that Josephine de la Vina indeed threw 158’9″ (48.38meters, fraction of centimeters is downgraded)” from PATAFA reply email.
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The Countries Greatest Female Thrower
De la Vina the teenager lass who had won the bronze at the 1962 Asiad, returned knowing she must do better at the next Asian Games in 1966 (Asian Games held every four years). de la Vina set a new games record in the qualifying round of 47.40 and she further improved the record in the final. Her throw of “156’1 1/2 inches” or 47.58m secured her the gold medal in the final. She also threw ’41’4 1/2′ or 12.61m to place fourth in the Womens Shotput. Josephine Dela Vina a pretty 6ft civil engineering student collected a gold medal for the Philippines in a games record throw (Strait Times). She cracked the record of 45.90m (150ft 7 1/4 inches) set by K. Murase of Japan at the last Asian Games.
In fact a meeting of Asian Track and Field statisticians named her the ‘most confident athlete of the Asian Games’ (Strait Times). I’m not sure how confidence is measured?
Dela Vina also held the Womens Shotput Record from 1970 to 1975 with a throw of 13.89m in Los Angeles, which stood until it was broken by Consuela Salibis-Lacusong who still holds the record today at 13.92m.
Dela Vina would go on to represent the country in three olympic games 1964, 1968, 1972.
Her throws of 42.27, 46.58 and 53.92 landed her 18th, 15th and 14th in the Olympic Games Discus
She also set an untounched record in the Discus at 54.71m at Bakersfield, USA on 10/7/1971. Remarkably De la Vina shares the unique feat of being Asian Games champion 1966 (47.58m), Asian Track and Field Champion 1973 (50.74m) shared only with Lydia De Vega-Mercado.
de la Vina mark of 1973 ’166’5 3/4′ (50.74m) in Manila was a new Asian Record breaking the 1970 Record established at the Asian Games by Taruko Yagashita.
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| Discus | Name | DOB | Venue | Date Set | |
| 1 | 54.71m | Josephine de la Vina | 15/4/46 | Bakersfield, USA | 10/7/1971 |
| 2 | 45.26m | Dorie Cortejo | 23/3/58 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 23/8/1989 |
| 3 | 43.09m | Roselyn Hamero | 2/7/1979 | Manila | 5/5/2000 |
| 4 | 41.78m | Consuela Lacusong | 19/1/1954 | 31/5/75 | |
| 5 | 41.41m | Rosie Villarito | 8/1/1979 | Manila | 2002 |
| 6 | 40.25m | Maika De Oro | 9/12/1994 | Dapitan | 13/5/2011 |
| 7 | 39.34m | Carla Yson | 81 | Penang | 9/7/1997 |
| 8 | 39.31m | Maria Abing | Dumaguete | 16/4/1970 | |
| 9 | 38.20m | Teresita Torralbo | Palaro | 1975 | |
| 10 | 36.83m | Mona Sulaiman | 42 | Leyte | 1965 |
*Current All-Time List of countries 10 Best ever Discus Throwers. Date maybe revised if sufficient evidence provided to update. (updated)
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Acknowledgment and Revision Notes
I would like to personally thank Mr. Silva Netto of the PATAFA and Mr. Heinrech Hubbeling of the Asian Athletics Association for there help in providing source material for the Revision of the Philippine National, Junior National and UAAP Records.
I also would like to thank Mr Jad Adrian Washif for helping secure a copy of a rare book by the late Track and Field Historian Mr Anthony Buchannan on the advice of Mr Ignacio Dee.
Related articles
- Mona Sulaiman – first woman to win 100/200m double at Asian Games (rev 1) (pinoyathletics.com)
- Elma Muros the SEA Games Heptathlon Queen (pinoyathletics.com)
- Remembering Nanette Lusterio (1954-2012) (pinoyathletics.com)
- Cerah Moren aims for the 2015 World Youth Champs in Javelin (pinoyathletics.com)
- Multiple SEA Games Champion James Wong quest for SEA Games Athletics History (pinoyathletics.com)
- Rogelio Onofre and a record that stood nearly half a century (pinoyathletics.com)
- Isidro Del Prado: Legacy of the quarter mile (pinoyathletics.com)
Remembering Nanette Lusterio (1954-2012) (rev 1)
Article by Nicky Lusterio, Ignacio Dee, and Pirie Enzo
Would like to thank Nanette daughter Nicky for giving me permission and contributing photos to this article and Mr Ignacio Dee for his insight as a long time follower of Track and Field in this country
Mrs Nanette Lusterio enjoying some good times with her Gintong Alay Team Mates.
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Nanette Lusterio passed away August 13, 2012 at the young age of 58. Lusterio came to be known as the pride of Alubijid (not far from Cagayan De Oro) in Northern Mindanao. Representing NMRAA in local, regional and national school meets. A women who truly loved representing her country and the sport of Track and Field. Mrs Lusterio was overshadowed by other great athletes of her time her career spanned the entire 1970s. However Nanette holds her own place in Philippine Track and Field History. Her feats include the fact she held the Philippine Junior Record (1.63m) in the Junior Womens High Jump for 21 years from 1972 to 1993. A very popular and charismatic athlete who will be dearly missed by her friends, her peers firmly believe she deserves a place among the greats of our sport.
Nanette Galaritta Lusterio was born on June 12, 1954 in Alubijid, Northern Mindanao the daughter of Nicasio Lusterio Sr. and Pureza. Emerging as a talent in both the 100m Hurdles clocking 15.5s at the Malaysian Open and High Jump in the early 70s. The then 18-year old Lusterio who stood at 5’6 set a Philippine Junior record in the womens High Jump of 1.63m which stood 21 years until it was broken in 1993 by Chery Ann Janiva (1.64m). In 1974 she went onto equal the Palarong Pambansa High Jump Record of 1.64m.
18 year old Nanette Lusterio far right in her first meet for the Philippines she placed 3rd in the 100 Hurdles in 15.5 at the 6 Nation AAA Prep meet in Singapore n Sept 16, 1972.
She would represent the Philippines at two SEA Games. Going onto win a Bronze and then a silver at the 1977 and 1979 SEA Games in the 5 event Pentathlon respectively and was still active in local sporting events leading up to the early 80s.
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Ms Lusterio attempting the Straddle Technique.
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List of Known Performances
1972 100m Hurdles -15.5s Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Open
1972 100m Hurdles -16.0s (Silver) Singapore, ASEAN School Games
1972 High Jump - 1.63m (Philippine Junior Record 1972-1993) 24/7/72 Manila.
1974 High Jump -1.60m (Palarong Pambansa Record)
1976 100m Hurdles – 14.5s 15/3/1976. Lucena City, Palarong Pambansa
1977 100m Hurdles -15.53et (5th) Kuala Lumpur, SEA Games
1977 Pentathlon – 2916 pts (Bronze) Kuala Lumpur, SEA Games
(15.60, 7.94m, 1.54m, 5.08m, 2.45.6)
1978 Long Jump- 5.09m (1st) Palarong Pambansa
1979 High Jump – 1.55m (5th) Jakarta, SEA Games
1979 Pentathlon -3011 pts (Silver) Jakarta, SEA Games
(15.86, 8.54m, 1.54m, 5.11m, 2.39.35)
1981 100m Hurdles -14.90et 3 10/12/1981 Manila
1982 100m Hurdles -15.8 3rd Palaro
1982 High Jump 1.40 3rd Palaro
Related articles
- 1978 Palarong Pambansa (pinoyathletics.com)
- Renato Unso ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ who shattered the national record. (pinoyathletics.com)
Elma Muros the SEA Games Heptathlon Queen
The Early 80s was an exciting era for Philippine Track and Field. The country was winning international sports events in the region here and there and medals were not hard to come by. A few athletes instantly became household names. Among them is a no-nonsense runner and durable heptathlon athlete named Elma Muros..
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Early Years
Elma Muros (Photo Credits: Alinne Parone)
Born January 14, 1967 in Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island, Romblon to a farming family, she was 6th in a brood of 9. Relatives had already inkling what she was going to be even at young age. Her mother Alice was once a 400-meter runner herself in her youth; and at a young age, Elma loved to jump over plants.
But her real entry to professional sports came early when at 14 she competed and caught the attention of local government agencies eyeing potential athletes at the regional sports meet: the Southern Tagalog Regional Athletics Association (STRAA). She was handpicked by then Governor Isidro Rodriguez of Rizal and became an athletic scholar at Roosevelt College in that province while all the time training and competing. She was also one of the star athletes of high-profile sports program called Gintong Alay.
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A Very Talented Junior
It didnt take Elma long to get noticed by then Gintong Aloy sports Director Michael Keon, infact later that same year she was discovered in the Palaro system in 1981 she became the youngest entry in Philippine History to participate in the SEA Games. Although finishing fourth in her pet long jump event with a leap of 5.64m. Muros teamed with the veteran Lorena Morcilla and two other young sprinters 17 year old Lydia De Vega and 16 year old Perla Balatucan to win the silver medal in the 4x100m Relay.
In 1983 at the age of 16, Muros captured the first of eight sea games titles in the Long Jump with a leap of 6.06m .This established what would be a continued domination of Philippine Women at the SEA Games in the Long Jump as they won it every year from then up until now apart from in 2001. She would defend that title the following sea games (6.11m).
What is special about this leap as a testament to the uniqueness of Elma’s ability the record remains unbroken. With eventual National Record Holder Marestella Torres leaping 6.03m being the closest some 15 years later.
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Rivalry with Lydia De Vega
The Philippines was not blessed with several remarkable female athletes in the 1980s. It can be said that depth is very important to help produce champions. There was Lydia De Vega but there was also a supporting cast of female sprinters at the time who where very good sprinters in there own right Ganosa, Sinoro, Lobos, Punelas-Carpio, Balatucan, Nolido..
Elma excelled in both track and field events and became as much of a household name to the general public at the same time as Lydia. The fact the Philippines had not just one but two high performing and attractive female athletes led to an all time high interest with the general public with track stadiums packed. De Vega would venture into the long jump taking the sea games title from Elma in 1987 with a leap of 6.27m.
In 1989 Elma took the record back at the National Training Games in Baguio with a leap of 6.39m. (Elma then won the next six sea games titles in the Long Jump). Elma won eight of the nine events she entered in Baguio. Ran 14.0 in 100 Hurdles into a head wind, 24.1 in 200m dash. Muros gave SEA Games Champion Nene Gamo a good fight in the Heptathlon but was forced to quit after hurting her back in the highjump.
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Family Plans
She would next enter Far Eastern University to take up B.S. Management and meet fellow sports scholar from Mindanao named Jorge “Jojo” Posadas. While an early marriage was not in her plans, it was a match made in “sports heaven”. So at 21 she decided to quit school and raise a family (she had two children Klarizze and George Jr.)
In all these years, Elma remained steadfast and dedicated in her career as an ASEAN or Asian region wide) athlete. And the hard work did not go unrewarded either. She has accumulated more than 200 medals and has been cited by different organizations for the honor she has brought to her country.
Asked which is the most special,
Elma avers, “Lahat ng medalya ko espesyal sa akin, ginto man o simpleng ribbon lang yan, kasi pinaghirapan ko lahat yan” (All my medals are important, gold or simple ribbon, because I worked hard to get it).
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The ‘Iron Woman’ of Philippine Athletics
With the departure of Lydia De Vega-Mercado to start a family and her eventual retirement in 1993. Elma quickly established herself as the Alpha female of Philippines Track and Field. Elma’s career thrived in the 1990s where she began to bag countless awards and collect magnanimous titles from various prestigious events all around the globe.
For one, she was awarded as the “Athlete of the Year” after the 1996 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games not only by one but two athletic institutions known as the Sports Communication Organization of the Philippines or SCOOP and the Philippines Sports Writers’ Association or PSA.
Muros who was dubbed as the ‘Iron Woman’ of the Philippines, also seized the legendary epithet of “SEA Games Heptathlon Queen” subsequent to her control of the heptathlon in the 1997 Southeast Asian Games. The swift Filipina sprinter and long jumper hurdled her way to success as she won a total of 15 Southeast Asian gold medals and many other more awards including a bronze medal from a 400-meter hurdle in the 1990 Beijing Asiad and another Bronze in the 1994 Hiroshima Asiad Long Jump. But for the retired trackster, her sweetest triumph was the Century Dash that she won in the December 1996 SEA Games in Thailand.
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End of an Era
Photo Credits (Pinoymiler.wordpress.com)
Last September 2001 after finishing bronze at the heptathlon events at the Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Elma finally announced her retirement. Long after her erstwhile contemporaries like Lydia de Vega and Isidro del Prado have left the sports world and after 21 years of competition and holding a total of 15 SEA Games gold medals, one of the most by any athlete,
She says, “Alam ko na sa isip at katawan ko na pwede pa ako pero tama na. Nakamit ko na ang lahat na pwede kong makamit. Nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos binigyan ako ng pagkakataong makamit ang mga karangalang ito.” (I know in my mind and body that I can still do it but it is over. I have gotten everything I aimed for. I am thankful to the Lord for giving me these chances to get all these medals.)
Back in 2002, the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) President Go Teng Ko announced Elma’s retirement. He said that their emotions clashed as they all felt both happy and sad by Elma’s decision. They were saddened because they will surely miss Elma and her amazing humility despite her huge success. On the other hand, they also felt happy because they became part of her glorious life and career at the least.
The joy and honor that she had brought them were incomparable as well. As the group moved on from Elma’s retirement, they shared with the Iron Woman’s new goal in life — to train more young and promising tracksters. Thus an important era in Philippine Track and Field History came to an end with the last of three major stars of the Gintong Aloy days ending a career which spanned over 20 years.
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Now and Then: Elma Today
But she has not giving up sports altogether. Though her competition days are now behind her, she is teaching and sharing her experiences this time. She presently serves as Consultant for Grassroots Level for the Philippine Sports Commission where she discovers and scouts young athletes with potentials from the provinces and other schools. As the head coach for University of the East Women Tracksters, Elma last December 14-17, 2002 propelled her ward to glory by winning the Championship in the women’s athletics division of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Tournament, dethroning former winner, University of Sto. Tomas.
Asked about this feat, Elma says,
“Talagang masaya ako kasi natupad na rin yung pangako ko sa UE Administration na kunin naman yung Championship within three years, and our sacrifices paid off.” (I am really happy because I fulfilled the promise to the UE Administration to snatch the Championship).
Busy Elma also reveals she derives the same, if not more enjoyment training young students at Brent International School in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. She says “It is a lot better to teach young kids sometimes because they are just starting and they don’t have bad habits to unlearn unlike older wards.” But most of all, Elma is a hands-on wife and mother. Even with household help, she makes sure she has a say on the meal planning and how the house is maintained. “I like to fix the house a lot. That is why when I went to Magdiwang for one day last December, all I did was to stay inside the house and fix things there. I also hung some of my sports memorabilia on the walls of our old house so that my relatives and neighbors would get a chance to read my experiences and accomplishments. Later some children and teachers came over and interviewed me.”
These Days Elma Muros is also a tv celebrity, she appeared in a series of the Philippine version of Survivor and also played a role as ‘Coach Rose’ on the Filipino Indie Cinema Film Thelma. That tells the story of a runner who Elma shares a similar life story to.
Finally, what is Elma Muros Posadas message to her idols and young athletes who want to follow her footsteps?
“Walang imposible sa isang atleta na determinado at gusto ang ginagawa nila. Pero kung tamad siya at walang dediskasyon sa ginagawa niya, walang patutunguhan.” (There is nothing imposible to a determined athlete and one who enjoys what he/she is doing. But if you are lazy and don’t have dedication to what he is doing, nothing will come out of it.)
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Achievements and Best Times
- 15 SEA Games Gold Medals
- 8 SEA Games Titles in the Long Jump
- Youngest ever Track and Field entry in the SEA Games at 14 years of age.
- 100m – 11.67et +1.3 (Silver SEA Games) Manila 1991.
- 11.60et +2.4 National Open Lingayen 1997
- 200m -24.00et -0.6 (Gold SEA Games) Chiangmai 1995
- 400m 56.0(ht) Baguio City 1989
- 100mH -13.66et +1.3 (Gold) Manila 1991 (this mark was the Filipino Record for 16 years until it was broken by Sheena Atilano in 2007).
- 13.50et +3.6 (Gold Arafura Games) Australia 1991 (this is the fastest ever wind-aided performance by a Filipina or Fil-Heritage athlete)
- Long Jump -6.56m National Open 1997 (this record was tied in 2004 by Lerma Buluitan-Gabito, and after that broken by Marestella Torres)
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Current Records
- 400mH – 57.57et (Gold) Singapore 1991 (Still the Philippine Record for 21 years)
- Elma Muros 5346 Heptathlon 1998 Asian Games Bangkok (this record is still the national record)
- National Junior Record Womens Long Jump
- National Junior Record 4×400
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References:
http://pinoymiler.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/conversations-with-coach-jojo/ (Pinoy Miler’s Interview with Coach Jojo with background on Elma Muros)
http://sanrokan.com/newsanrokan/archives/jan20/feature_elma_aline.htm
http://istoryaniremigia.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/from-running-to-teaching-burning.html
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- The Age of the Inocencia – The First Great Filipina Sprint Champion (pinoyathletics.com)
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The Age of the Inocencia – The First Great Filipina Sprint Champion (rev 2)
I would like to share with the athletic community another great tale of one of our countries legendary female sprinters. Compiled by Pirie Enzo: but contributed by various sources including Mr Ignacio Dee.
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The Philippines has a strong history of Women Sprint Champions at Asian Level. The last one was Lydia De Vega, Amelita Alanes and before her Mona Sulaiman. But before all of these names the legacy started with a 5’2 farmer’s daughter from Iloilo, perhaps a forgotten name with the passing of time. Her name was Inocencia Solis and her win in Tokyo at in the 100m at 1958 Asian Games would begin a lasting legacy of Filipina Champions at Asian Level.
For the whole decade of the 1950s Solis was the primary dominant sprinter in the Philippines before the emergence of Mona Sulaiman in 1960. Solis would continue to be competitive at National level until 1965.
Born of Innocence Day (Dec 28) in 1932, to farmer parents Victorio Solis and former Leonarda Silomenio in the sleepy village of Bolalacao in the central Iloilo town of New Lucena. Her running days started at the New Lucena Elementary School where she shone in several athletic competitions. She also won top honors as a student of Santa Barbara High School.
In 1950 she won three gold medals at the National Inter-Scholastic Athletic Association Meet (NISSA) (these meets were the fore runner to the Palarong Pambansa which started in 1975). At this meet she established National Records in the 100,200 and Long Jump. In 1953 she was the PRISAA (Pampanga) and National Champion.
She continually held and improved on the National Record in the 100m up until 1962 when it was broken by Mona Sulaiman. The 200m until 1960 and the Long Jump for 7 years according to Rex Salvilla chair of the Western Visayas Historical Foundation.
Seeing her potentials, the Cebu Institute of Technology offered her full scholarship. She went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She worked as a school teacher and at the same time as athletic coach in Cebu for some time until the city government of Caloocan recruited her in the early 1960s.
In 1954 at the 2nd Asian Games in Manila, Solis won the bronze medal in 26.5s (26.2 national record in heats), she would team up with Rogelia Ferrer, Manolito Cinco, and Roberta Anore to win another bronze in the women’s 4×100 (50.4s). 
In 1958 Solis became a household name when she won the Asian Games 100m gold medal in 12.5s, in front of two Japanese runners in Tokyo and was named athlete of the year. She would team up with Ferrer, Irene Penuela and Fransica Sanopol to take the silver medal this time in the 4×100 (49.0s).
By 1962 she would win another gold at the Asian Games in Jakarta this time in the 4x100m (48.6s) teaming with Sulaiman, Aida Molinos, and Sanopol.
It took the government 40 years to again bestow another honor upon her — the Distinguished Filipino Woman Achiever in Sports award, which was given by then President Ramos during the Philippine Centennial Celebration.
Solis died of severe diabetes at the age of 69 at the Iloilo Mission Hospital on November 4, 2001. Her passing was tragic because the honors that she gave to the country was never reciprocated in terms of government support. She died poor.
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List of Performances by Inocencia Solis (awaiting on data)
1950 National School Champion 100,200, Long Jump (National Records)
1953 PRISAA and National Champion
1954 Asian Games (Bronze) 26.5 200m 26.2s (heats) (National Record)
Asian Games (Bronze) 4x100m (50.4s)
1958 Asian Games (Gold) 100m 12.5s
Asian Games (Silver) 4x100m (49.0s)
1959 25.3s (Asian Record)
1961 Malacca International Athletic Meet
100m – 2nd 12.5s, 200m 2nd
1962 Asian Games (Gold) 4x100m (48.6s)
100m – 12.4s
200m – 26.8s
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Sources:
http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?articleid=143439&publicationsubcategoryid=69
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Inocencia_Solis
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- Rogelio Onofre and a record that stood nearly half a century (pinoyathletics.com)
Mona Sulaiman – first woman to win 100/200m double at Asian Games (rev 3)
I would likely to share with the athletic community another great tale of one of our countries legendary female sprinters. Compiled by Pirie Enzo: but contributed by various sources including Mr Ignacio Dee.
Photo Credits: Eugene Register-Guard 1964
Long before Lydia De Vega Mercado captivated are nation even before she was a born, a barefooted girl from Cotobato would become Asia’s First double gold winner in the sprints. Her name was Mona Coco Sulaiman (sometimes spelt Solaiman). Sulaiman was also the first Filipina to win three golds in a single Asian Games which took place in Jakarta in 1962. Four years earlier Inocencia Solis had won the Philippines first gold medal in the Womens 100m. Sulaiman would surpass and replace Solis as the dominant sprinter of the 1960s.
The first national champion in pentathlon (1963), five-time national champion in shot put, six-time national champion in the 100m and 200m event, and was a discus throw national champion. She competed in the 1960 (Rome) and 1964 (Tokyo) Olympics. Sulaiman was known as a fiery competitor and once reportedly hurled a discus at rowdy onlookers during a local athletic meet.
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Discovery and Early Days
Sulaiman was born to Police man Kudelat and Aminan Sulaiman on June 9th, 1942 in a small Barrio in Cotobato the eldest of five children. From the age of seven she represented Cotobato Elementary School. Sulaiman was first spotted by an official of the bureau of publics school at a sports meet in her school in 1957 playing softball she was in the 5th grade then and only 15. This was a turning point and beginning of her athletics career as when the school official returned to the division superintendent’s office in Cotabato, they sent for a local coach who would test out her skills on the athletic track. The three impressed told Officials incredible stories about her speed on the cinder, about this barefoot Muslim Girl. It was the end of softball for Sulaiman. At the National Scholastic meet in Lingayen, Pangasinan a coach from Far Eastern University would recruit. Sulaiman would study a degree in Management. Mona recalls how Professor Ruperto Evangelista contributed a lot towards her coaching. Evangelista was the mastermind behind several gold medals at the asian games during the 1960s.
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The Olympian
Three years later at the age of 18 she went to the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. Sulaiman made the second round of the 100m and was eliminated in the heats of the 200m. Although Sulaiman failed to land any honors in Rome, she came home, as she describes it, several times richer in experience. From US champion Wilma Rudolph, Sulaiman learned to improve her running techniques and discovered how to put her 58, 130-pound frame to best advantage. She also learned to combine her long strides with breathing and speed techniques. Largely self-taught, she incorporated the techniques into her training regimen. Such diligence earned her a double victory in the 1962 Asian Games in Indonesia and a slot in the country’s team to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
13 August 1961 Malacca Games, The womens sprint was Mona Sulaiman’s all the way.A powerful runner, she was well in the lead by the half way mark and was clear at the tape.
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Asian Champion
In the national track and field meet, she proved her prowess at the Rizal Memorial Stadium as she chalked up several national record-breaking feats in her two favorite events: 11.9 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 24.6 seconds in the 100-meter dash. She anchored her team in the 400 x 100-meter relay as well.
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100m Asian Games 1962 (30 Aug): 3 Heats (August): 2 semi-finals (August):
No competitors were eliminated in the heats, the purpose of which appears to have been to assist in the seeding of the semi-finals. Despite the fact that all starters in the heats qualified for the semi-finals there were was still some good running, Inokuchi equalled the Games record of 12.5 in the first trial and in the second heat Sulaiman shattered the record with a 11.9 clocking. The third heat went to Yoda in 12.3. The winners of the semi-finals were Sulaiman (12.1) and Yoda (12.2). Sulaiman always had the final well in hand and further improved the Games Record. Solis the defending champion, finished back in fifth place behind Ratnam who set a new National Record (from Handbook of Far East and Asian Games by Ian Buchanon ATFS, 1974).
1. Mona Sulaiman Philippines 11.8
2. Ikoku Yoda Japan 12.3
3. Takuko Inokuchi Japan 12.3
4. Loraine Ratnam Sri Lanka 12.4
5. Inocencia Solis Philippines 12.8
6. Ernawati Indonesia 13.1
To the glory of her country in the international events, she was a winner of two gold medals since she finished the 100-meter race in 11.93 seconds ahead of two Japanese runners. Im not sure how Wikipedia got an electronic time? was electronics even invented back in 1962, i know by 1968 Tokyo Olympics electronics was in use this was the first fully auto system in place at an Olympic Games.
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200m Asian Games 1962 (28 Aug): 3 heats (27 Aug): 2 semi-finals (28 aug)
As in the 100 meters the heats served only to assist in the seeding of the semi-finals and no runners were eliminated. Despite, the non-competitive nature of the first round Sulaiman set a new Games record when she won the second heat in 24.7. In the first semi-final Sulaiman improved to 24.4 which equalled the Asian Record set by Sim Keun Den of North Korea in 1960. Okudaira took the second semi-final in 26.1. As expected Sulaiman outclassed the field in the final and the surprise of the race was Dissanyaka who set a Ceylonese record.
1. Mona Sulaiman Philippines 24.5
2. Haruko Yamakazi Japan 25.7
3. Nirmala Nimal Dissanayaka Ceylon 25.8
4. Yoshiko Okudaira Japan 25.8
5. Soertami Indonesia 26.7
6. Lily Tan Malaya 27.1
The 200-meter sprint in 24.63 seconds according to Wikipedia. Again as above im not sure of the electronic timing present? but the semi-final run was faster on hand times for Sulaiman.
She tossed the spheroid 39.11 feet in the shot put (11.97m) winning bronze an unprecedented fourth medal.
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Second Olympics
1964 Olympics Warming up
Her inclusion in the Tokyo event sent big sponsors such as Philippine Airlines on a race, too. San Miguel Brewery pitched in for Sulaiman’s six-month training at the University of Oregon. She was accompanied by former Shotput Record Holder and coach Soccoro Baldomero Paglinawan who acted as a translator for Sulaiman who spoke little English. Tapped as her official trainers were university track and field coach, Bill Bowerman and Bro. Iking Gonzales. Local shoe brands Elpo and Spartan helped her hurdle Portland’s inclined roads. After less than three weeks of training Sulaiman clocked 10.6 for the 100m Yards just 3/10 off the world record.
She returned to the Olympics in 1964 in Tokyo but failed to live up to her reputation as Asia’s sprint queen, again failing to qualify for the finals of the 100m and 200m events.
Sulaiman would throw the Shotput the following year in Tacloban to 13.60m which stood as the Filipino National Record until it was broken five years later by fil-heritage athlete Josephine de la Vina at a meet in the United States. She would qualify for the 1966 Asian Games when she ran 25.1 secs at the national trials however she refused to take a gender test which barred her from participating at those games.
Sulaiman 100 and 200m National Records stood until the early 70s when they where broken by Amelita Alanes.
Sulaiman Throwing the Discus Circa 1964 (Photo Credit: Strait Times)
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Sulaiman career came a cruel end with questions and rumours circulating about her gender
Sulaiman (Left) in 2010, (Photo Credits: Dorothy aka. Doralicious).
Sulaiman for the record states
I was nursing a bad case of flu at that time and decided to forego the medical check-up because of my health condition. She was surprised that her refusal was blown-up as a gender issue, Sulaiman adds. As I understood it, it became big news back home, shocking thousands of my fans. It might have made a few media careers, she says bitterly, but did they ever care about the deep hurt it had created?
The gender flap nipped in the bud what could have been a glorious sports career and Sulaiman has kept her counsel since then, staying away from interviews and being wary of publicity. Pag gusto ko ang tanong, sasagutin ko, (If I like the question, I’ll answer it), she tells this writer. Her world, she recounts, was turned upside down by the rumor. Not a day passed that people did not ask me about that gender issue.
The wife of a Visayan local official then once came up to me to ask about my true (sexual) identity, and I was so aghast that I dared her to allow her husband to sleep with me overnight.
The sense of intrusion became so overwhelming that Sulaiman felt forebodings of physical harm. She decided to pack a pair of .45 cal. guns on her waist to protect herself. Confused, she started doubting even her athletic prowess. Did people seek her out because she had brought honor to the country, or were they only after her as an object of curiosity? Nothing seemed concrete, she recalls feeling then.
Plagued by self-doubts, Sulaiman eventually lost interest in sports competitions and dropped out of the scene. She took various jobs after college: a checker at the Manila Appliance Center for two years; a staff assistant in Guam for a local film producer, a bit player in 1978. She appeared in 18 movies under Junar Productions, taking second lead roles at the urging of actor-producer Jun Aristorenas and wife, Virginia Soliman.
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Second lead
Among her memorable movies, says Sulaiman, are Sta. Fe, The Panther, Akoy Lupa, and Interpol Malaysia. Another movie project, Asiang La Luma with Nida Blanca and Pepito Rodriguez, fizzled out. There were also offers to do TV commercials and a flight stewardess job for Philippine Airlines, says the former champ, but they didn’t work out.
She tried her hand in small venturesas a supplier of Mindanao goods, manager of three beer gardens in Pasay City, and a proprietor of a mini-grocery. Only the grocery remains in operation.
Shrugs Sulaiman: I easily get fed-up with running a business. I can’t stay long enough to see it grow. Perhaps my heart still hankers for sports, where I truly belong.
To indulge herself, she joins athletic events on her own, bagging a gold each in the shotput and discus throw events at the Asian Veterans Championship Meet in Bangkok, Thailand, last year. Nothing short of what I could call my legacy, she confesses.
Shes also found time to travel, spending her savings to visit pineapple magnate King Parker in Hawaii, another friend in San Francisco, and a colleague in Malaysia. Sulaiman relishes as well her closeness to the Marcoses, who once gifted her with a 30-cc Honda motorcycle.
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List of Performances by Mona Coco Sulaiman
196o Olympics Rome 100m: heats – 2h2 12.1ht, 12.40a (National Junior Record) : quarter finals – 6h1 12.4ht, 12.54a
1960 Olympics Rome 200m: heats – 4h4 25.8ht, 25.98a (National Junior Record)
1961 Singapore Open 11.37m (Phi Record)
1962 National Games Rizal Memorial 24.58a (Phi Record)
1962 National Games Rizal Memorial 11.88m (Phi Record)
1962 Asian Games 100m Final: 11.93a Gold (Phi Record)
1962 Asian Games 200m Final: 24.63a Gold
1962 Asian Games 4x100m Final: 48.67 Gold (Phi Record)
1962 Asian Games Shotput: 11.97m Bronze (Phi Record)
1964 Olympic Rome 100m: heats 7h1 12.0w
1964 Olympics Tokyo 200m: heats 4h5 25.4w
1964 Olympic Tokyo 4x100m: heats 7h2 48.8
1965 National Games Tacloban Shotput: 13.60m (Phi Record)
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References
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19640426&id=uwBWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-uIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6661,5343178 (very old news clipping from 1964)
http://doralicious.blogspot.com.au/2010_05_01_archive.html
http://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/51579/the-pinoy-olympian-hall-of-fame/4
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Mona_Sulaiman
http://www.mobilitytechzone.com/news/2006/04/29/1624736.htm
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Related articles
- The Age of the Inocencia – The First Great Filipina Sprint Champion (pinoyathletics.com)
Loralie Sermona
Below is my proposed Wiki, for another legend of Track and Field. In order to qualify for this status athlete must currently hold a record in a senior event.
VIDEO OF LORALIE THROWING IN HONG KONG
Loralie Amahit Sermona (born Nov 1, 1981), is a Filipino Hammer Thrower and currently holds the National Record. Sermona is from Binalbagan, Negros Occidental. Attending Binalbagan High School and Binalbagan Catholic College.
Loralie Sermona
As a member of the Negros Occidental team she was the National Junior Champion in the Womens Hammer two years in a row in 1999 and 2000. In her first year as a senior she registered a throw of 36.90m still trailing top thrower Roselyn Hamero. The following year however Sermona established herself as the top Hammer Thrower in the Philippines with a national record of 44.88m in the new event for women. She later would improve this mark to 45.28m with a 9th place finish at the Asian Track and Field Championships in Manila in 2003. At the 2005 SEA Games in Manila she improved her NR to 48.63m. At the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand she improved her NR to 49.79m however finished just outside the medals in fourth place.
In 2011 now competing under the surname Sermona (as had married national team mate and distance runner Julius Sermona) won her first medal at the SEA Games with a Bronze throw of 49.69m in Palembang, Indonesia.
She again improved her mark in 2012 twice first by winning the Philippine National Games in Dumaguete with 50.03m, and then a month later at the Hong Kong Invitationals this time finishing second with 50.23m.
Sources:
http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/biographies/country=phi/athcode=183642/index.html
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