Aing cops 4th gold in relay

After settling for the bronze in the men’s 400-meter run, Jimar Aing steered the Philippine Navy squad to victory in the 4 x 400-meter relay yesterday, in the process earning his fourth gold medal at the close of the 2001 Milo Invitational Track and Field Championships at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

The two-year member of the national team was designated as the Navymen’s leadoff runner and did not disappoint his teammates, giving them a sizeable lead which they never relinquished in winning with a time of three minutes and 18.19 seconds. Good for silver was the Air Force quartet at 3:22.77, followed by Philippine Army at 3:23.14.

It was the fourth gold for Aing in the four-day, multi-nation event, counting his earlier victories in the century dash, 200-meter race and 4 x 100-meter relay. Joining Aing in the victorious relay squad were triple gold medalist John Lozada, Edmund Ramos and Fidel Gallenero, also a triple gold medal winner.

Lozada won the 800-meter run last Friday and took his second gold with another victory in the 1,500-meter race yesterday while Gallenero earned his other gold medals in his favorite event — the decathlon — and the 4 x 100-meter race. Aing was denied of a fifth gold when he landed third in the 400-meter race won by Ernie Candelario with a time of 47.27 seconds.

"Kay Candelario talaga ang 400 meters. Specialty event kasi niya ‘yon at ako naman ay isang sprinter. Ayos na din itong apat na ginto," said the 23-year-old Aing, a native of Basilan province, who is expected to have his hands full in the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games this September. "Mabigat ang laban doon kaya mahirap magsalita ng maaga."

Aside from Gallenero, Lozada and Aing, who emerged as the most bemedalled athlete in the event, also stepping up for the host country were double gold medal winners Lerma Bulauitan (women’s long jump and 100-meter dash) and Joebert Delicano (men’s long jump and triple jump).

Before hitting this trackfest, the country’s best athletes saw action in the Taiwan Open and Thailand Open just recently, and will still compete in one more international meet — most probably in the Singapore Open — before starting their high-altitude training in Baguio City leading to the Kuala Lumpur SEAG barely four months from now.

Other gold medal winners for the Philippines yesterday were Ma. Grace Melgor in the women’s 400-m hurdles (1:06.3), Melinda Manahan in the 20-km walk (2:22.03), Harry Canillo in the men’s 50-km walk (4:59.22), Mowen Boino in the 110-meter hurdles (15.12 seconds) and Emerson Obiena in the men’s pole vault (4.70 meters).