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[av_heading heading=’Negrense wins gold in world athletics ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Veteran long jumper Marestella Torres-Sunang bested nine other rivals to capture the gold medal in the 2016 World Masters Athletics Championships in Perth, Australia.
Participating in the tournament for the first time, Torres-Sunang jumped 6.11m in the women’s 35-39 division to give the Philippines its second gold and third medal overall in the weeklong event.
The 35-year-old native of San Jose, Negros Oriental made a 6.11m leap on her first attempt. It was followed by 5.92m, 5.98m and 6.09m in her succeeding tries.
It was Torres-Sunang’s second medal feat in the international tournament since her stint in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She also bagged a bronze medal in the 2016 Asean Beach Games in Danang, Vietnam.
Torres-Sunang failed to get a medal in her third and last Olympic stint recently. She did not advanced to the finals for not reaching the 6.75m mark during the preliminary round.
Meanwhile Australian Melissa Foster settled for a silver medal finish with 5.74m, while Italian Cristina Paganelli salvaged the bronze medal with 5.65m.
Other competitors were British Jane Scott, American Latesha Anderson-Short, Australian Cassie Neubauer, Chinese Li Xueli, British Jody Ward, Aussie Blaise Kerehoma, and Sri Lankan Sujee Wijendra.
Aside from Torres-Sunang, the Philippines’ other gold medalist in the event was Danilo Fresnido from men’s 40-44 javelin throw. Veteran Erlinda Lavandia placed second in the women’s 60-65 javelin throw./PN
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