Atienza’s feat proved to be the big news of the day as the National Open Invitational Track and Field Championships fired off yesterday at the Rizal Memorial track stadium.
Atienza, a 24-year-old member of the Philippine Army and a veteran of the 2003 Vietnam SEA Games, recorded a jump of 1.78 meters on her first try, breaking her previous record of 1.75 set during the 2002 staging of the same event.
Atienza was given a chance at 1.80 but failed to hurdle the challenge, her right heel tipping the bar. She called it a day after the failed attempt.
"Hindi ko naman talaga target ang record ngayon kasi nasa heptathlon ang concentration ko," said Atienza, who landed sixth in the Vietnam SEA Games’ high jump with her 1.65.
"Pero maganda na din ang nangyari. Wala masyadong pressure kasi mga juniors lang ang kalaban," she added.
Mariz Cotoner of the Philippine Air Force took the silver with a jump of 1.48 while Melody dela Rosa of the Bulacan State University settled for the bronze at 1.45.
Other early winners in the four-day event which drew entries from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Brunei, Singapore and Thailand include RP’s Mitchell Martinez in women’s shotput and Malaysia’s Mary Jane Nakaran in girls’ long jump.
Martinez, of the Philippine National Police, had a throw of 11.02 meters, followed by Charlene Payagan of the TMS Shipping Lines at 10.78 and Marlin Dionisio of the Philippine Navy who had a similar throw but had more attempts.
Nakaran won the gold with a leap of 5.57 meters. The silver went to Maricel Mariano of Laguna at 5.51 and the bronze to Ma. Arianne Lumasco of FEU at 5.15. Elma Muros, who wants another shot at the SEA Games, was fourth.
In the 20,000-meter walk for men, Michael Embuedo of FEU won in an hour, 40 minutes 53.3 seconds followed by Eric Tauro of TMS Shipping Lines at 1:41.29.9 and Harry Canillo of the Philippine Navy at 1:47.45.3.
The 10,000 km walk for boys was ruled by Roland Asan of Laguna at 53.56.2. Next came Oliver Garcia, also of Laguna, at 55.51.2 and Gerald Taburnal of Sisters of Mary at 1:00.05.
In boys’ pole vault, Edward Marmol of Mapua bagged the gold at 3.50 meters.
Nine of the 15 gold medals on opening day were still being disputed as of presstime. Thirteen gold medals will be at stake this morning and 14 in the afternoon.