Lopena emerges fastest man

ILAGAN CITY, Isabela, Philippines — Anfernee Lopena took advantage of Fil-Am Eric Shaun Cray’s absence and ruled the 100m dash yesterday to emerge the fastest man in the Ayala Philippine Athletics Championships at the Ilagan Sports Complex here.

Lopena, a 23-year-old member of the Phl 4x100m relay team that snared a bronze in last year’s SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, clocked 10.91 seconds to beat Sabah, Malaysia’s Muhammad Din Norbik and La Salle’s William Gacerlan, who timed 11.18 and 11.23 for the silver and bronze, respectively.

The Tagbilaran, Bohol native and College of St. Benilde graduate’s time, however, was way off his personal best of 10.4 seconds he recorded in the Weekly Relays in Pasig two years ago.

Cray, holder of the country’s century mark’s time of 10.25 he posted in the 2015 Singapore SEAG, decided to skip the centerpiece event after seeing action in the  200m dash and the 4x100 relay.

“The last time he (Cray) and I raced was four years ago. I finished seventh because I was still a second-year college student back then,” said Lopena. “But if I get the chance to face him again, I’ll give him a good fight.”

Lopena’s victory also came a couple of days after their 4x100m relay team was disqualified after Cray accidentally dropped the baton off Lopena, the first runner.

Now Lopena hopes their team of Cray, Trenten Anthony Beram and Clinton Bautista would submit a time that would meet the standard for spot in the Asian Games this August in Indonesia.

“It will be history if we can make it to Indonesia because it will be the first time in a long while that our country would be fielding in a 4x100m relay team,” said Lopena, who teamed up with Cray, Beram and Archand Bagsit for the bronze in the Kuala Lumpur SEAG.

Eloiza Luzon, who also represents Phl team-City of Ilagan like Lopena, crowned herself the sprint queen with a 12.34-second clocking, beating RunRio-UP’s Jeremiah Malonzo (12.61) and Ateneo’s Kimberly Zulueta (12.64).

Veruel Verdadero and Eliza Cuyom took their fourth gold medals after they teamed up with Jessel Lumapas and Lord Angel Santos in leading Dasmariñas City to the 4x100m mixed relay gold in 46.55, beating the CSF Knights of Mark Vincent Quiambao, Michaelangelo Batalona, Janice Patdu and Hazel Yumul (48.39) and Team Iskolar-Calamba’s John Ruffer Pablo, John Paul Rabina, A. Agamanos and Erica Marie Ruto (49.24).

Verdadero and Cuyom topped the boys’ 100m dash with the former clocking 11.16 and the latter coming in 12.80 in the event presented by Ayala Corp., City of Ilagan, Milo Nutri-up, Soleus, Soleus watches, Foton, Cherrylume and UCPB.

Perpetual Help’s Ernie Calipay ruled the boys’ high jump with a 1.90 while Tuguegarao’s Laila Tuliao topped the girls’ hammer throw with a 19.25m.

Mapua’s James Lozano heaved a 56.73m to top the boys’ javelin throw ahead of San Beda’s Marjoe Igbalic (55.05m) and Cantafa-Camarines Norte’s Larry Son Amparo (49.71m).

In the Masters’ event, track legend Elma Muros-Posadas, representing Soleus L-TimeStudio team, ruled the women’s 100m for 50 to 54 years old in 15.19 to earn a slot to the Phl team seeing action in the World Masters set next year in Italy.

“I want to serve as an inspiration to the younger generation that we can still do it even though I’m old and I have a broken tendon,” said Posadas.

Edward Kho, the event’s project director, took the men’s 100m gold for 45-49 class with a time of 13.05.