Buenavista sets new mark in steeplechase

KUALA LUMPUR (Via Globe Telecoms) — Pocket-size runner Eduardo Buenavista became the toast of the 21st Southeast Asian Games, winning the 3,000m steeplechase event in a new SEAG record at the forefront of a 1-2 finish by the Philippine team yesterday at the Kuala Lumpur national stadium here yesterday.

Buenavista, a Navyman, left his pursuers gasping in his wake en route to the Philippines’ first athletic gold at the start of athletic competitions in a time of 8:40.77, breaking the 10-year-old mark of 8:55.85 by his predecessor Hector Begeo in the 1991 SEA Games in Manila.

A far second but nevertheless owner of the silver medal was teammate Daud Mama, who edged out his rival in their battle about 50 meters behind Buenavista for most of the way to finish in 9:02.89.

"I’m dedicating this to my countrymen," said the 22-year-old brand new father of a two-month-old baby boy back home in South Cotabato.

The victory erased the first day frustrations of athletics chief Go Teng Kok who earlier was cheering loudly for Lerma Bulauitan in the long jump competitions before a Vietnamese made a surprise leap on her fifth attempt to win the gold.

Vietnamese Phan Thi Thu Lan, whose best leap was only 6.26m after three attempts, exceeded Bulauitan’s leading mark of 6.43m with a jump of 6.46m on her fifth attempt. Bulauitan tried to beat her rival on her sixth and last attempt but was called for a foul.

"Kaya ko ang 6.46, but I was too eager to do it and I overstepped on the line," she said.

But the record spoke well of the 28-year-old trackster, who made an impressive stint here as the rightful heiress to Elma Muros, who failed in her attempt to win her ninth gold in the event.

Muros, now 34, felt signs of aging in what her husband-coach Jojo Posadas said will now be her last SEA Games, was fourth with a leap of 6.24 m, way behind the record of 6.52 she posted in winning her third long jump gold in 1989 also in this city.

The bronze was won by another Vietnamese, Nguyen Bic Van, in 6.37m.

Her run in the semifinals of the 100m dash moments after she did 6.43m jump could have also taken Bulauitan’s reserve energy at a time she needed to be at the peak of her strength to leap past the leading mark of 6.46.

"I’m satisfied with my win. I’m not frustrated. I’ll come back," said Bulauitan before the start of the 100m finals.