Muros feels old fire, mulls comeback

Chances are Elma Muros-Posadas, the country’s most bemedalled female athlete, will make a comeback in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games the country is hosting from Nov. 27-Dec. 5.

Muros-Posadas, who retired from competing after the 2001 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, is seriously contemplating a SEAG comeback following a decent showing in the 400-meter hurdles in the recent World Masters Championship in San Sebastian, Spain.

"She’s been entertaining thoughts of coming back in the games after submitting a competitive time in the World Masters," Jojo Posadas, Lerma’s husband and RP team coach, said in Pilipino.

Muros-Posadas, a celebrated athlete with 15 SEAG gold medals tucked under her belt but now a mother of two at 39, clocked 1.04.48 in finishing second in a dead-heat with the eventual gold-medal winner from Ireland and the Italian third-placer who’s a former world champion.

"The Philippine standard is below one minute. But if she would seriously train, she could easily hit the qualifying standard," said Jojo.

Jojo said he’s wife is likely to join the final tryout for the RP track and field bets on Oct. 9 at the Ultra. At the moment, only about 70 percent of the 52-strong RP track and field national pool have made the grade for the games.

"She’s making herself available for the RP team. But she would have to meet the criteria," said Jojo. "She has two months to prepare for the games, I believe she can do it."

But Jojo added he’s not looking forward to another gold medal performance by the former queen of tracks.

"I’m for her comeback but my purpose is for her to push the other RP athletes," said Jojo, adding Elma could be a good training partner for current No. 1 RP female 400 hurdles bet Grace Melgar.

"Maraming malakas na mga bata. Pero hindi natsa-challenge," said Jojo.

The Philippine athletics is looking for a haul of 12 gold medals in the coming games to be held in various venues in the country.

The coaching staff said gold medal potentials are Maristella Torres or Lerma Bulauitan in women’s long jump, Henry Dagnil or Jobert Delicano in men’s long jump, Rene Herrera 3,000 steeplechase, Arnel Ferrera in hammer throw and Eduardo Buenavista in 5,000 and 10,000m.

Other potential gold-medal performers are the RP bets in the men’s and women’s marathons and the men’s 8,000m and 1,500m events.