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[av_heading heading=’Negrense veterans Sermona, Sunang return to action with PH Open golds ‘ 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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Saturday, April 8, 2017
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MANILA – Julius Sermona resurfaced in a bid to reclaim his spot in the national squad as he bagged a gold medal in the 2017 Ayala Philippine National Open Invitational Athletics Championships at the Ilagan Sports Complex in Isabela.
The Libacao, Negros Occidental-native Sermona, who last campaigned in the Laos SEA Games in 2009, captured the gold medal in the men’s 10,000-meter run with 33 minutes and 29.78 seconds.
Finishing behind the 38-year-old Sermona were Gilbert Laido of Lucena City, who checked in at 33:32.28 and heavyweight Eduardo Buenavista of Philippine Air Force (33:43.29).
The Philippine Air Force bet admitted that he returned from retirement in the hopes of representing the country once again in the 2017 SEA Games to be held at Malaysia this August.
“Mahirap po kasi kapag atleta, hinahanap-hanap ng katawan mo ang pagtakbo,” said Sermona. “Medyo malayo pa din po ako ngayon pero makakaya namin kung makakabalik lang sa ensayo.”
Meanwhile, three-time Olympian Marestella Torres-Sunang also made herself available for another tour of duty for the national team by bagging the gold medal in the women’s long jump event.
The Negros Oriental-native Torres-Sunang tallied 6.14 meters to breeze through the gold medal over the younger Katherine Khay Santos (6.01) and Clarice Ancheta of Team ISU (4.25).
“It was just a light workout,” said Torres-Sunang. “My performance in this tournament is below my personal best of 6.72 meters, but it’s okay. My goal is to reach my peak in time for the SEA Games in August. I still have time. There’s nothing to worry.”/PN
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