Manansala humbles Herrera, snares gold

MANILA, Philippines – Unheralded Edison Manansala upstaged reigning SEA Games steeplechase champion Rene Herrera to rule the 1,500m run in the Milo-National Open Invitational Track and Field Championships at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen, Pangasinan yesterday.          

Manansala, of Univ. of Baguio, outsprinted Herrera in the final 50 meters to bag the gold medal to the delight crowd that included Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino, Dagupan City Mayor Al Fernandez and city administrator Alvin Fernandez.        

The 23-year-old Manansala crossed the finish line in 4 minutes and 3.94 seconds to beat Herrera who settled for silver in 4:04.93.          

“I gave it my all in the last 50 meters. It was so close from the start,” said Manansala in Filipino.

The victory thus assured Manansala of a spot in the national pool gearing up for this year’s SEA Games in Laos.

Four new national records, including two in the juniors, were set in the event while a host of promising young athletes emerged during the three-day event which also drew foreign participants.

Michael Embuedo and Florida Gonzales captured the 20k walk gold medals in record fashions while teener Jeron Narag and Patrick Unso also posted record feats in the junior division of the walkathon and 110m hurdles events, respectively.

Other winners were Eduard Paul Paler (boys’ shot put), Ernesto Ybanez (boys’ long jump), Stephanie Cimato (girls’ javelin), Lorelie Amahir (women’s hammer throw) and Stephanie Cimato (girls javelin).