Elma, now 38 and a mother of two, was supposed to compete in the 4x100 but was taken out of the lineup. She said she doesn’t mind and will give it her best just the same.
"It’s okay. No problem. As long as I get to compete, then that’s fine for me," said Elma inside the McDonald’s outlet at Harrison Plaza. She was holding on to a bag of burger, fries and cold drinks.
"They’re for my child. Running errands is my newest event," said Elma, smiling, before taking off in her tight jogging pants, sleeveless shirt and running shoes.
In yesterday’s long jump finals, the barker, over the microphone and through giant speakers, kept on reading comparative SEA Games, Asian Games and Olympic records in athletics.
And he was doing it even as the athletes were preparing to make their jump. At one point, Malaysia’s Ngew Sin Mei seemed to have been distracted by the barker’s loudness.
Ngew ended up winning the bronze (6.27 meters), Lerma Gabito of the Philippines the silver (6.45) and Maristella Torres, also of the Philippines, the gold (6.47).
Over the last two days, they’ve played before a big, highly-appreciative crowd which keeps on cheering and egging them on point by point, set by set, match by match.
"I’ve never experienced anything like this before," said Fil-American Eric Taino, who defeated Thailand’s Sonchat Ratiwatana, 3-6, 6-3 6-1, yesterday to boost RP’s bid in the men’s team event.
Cecil Mamiit, another Fil-American and also seeing action for the RP team for the first time, also emerged victorious, beating Sanchai Ratiwatana, 6-2, 6-4 to send the team in the finals.
After wrapping up the match with a down-the-line forehand, the left-handed Taino received a big round of applause. He was quick to acknowledge the crowd, pointing to them, then to the sky, waving and taking a bow.