Banigued, Lavandia bag bronze in Asia Masters

MANILA, Philippines - Margarito Banigued placed third in the men’s 5,000m walk while former javelin champion Erlinda Lavandia also produced a bronze in hammer throw at the start of the 18th Asia Masters Athletics Championships in Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture in Japan last Friday.

Banigued, a middle distance runner during the Gintong Alay days, turned in a 32-minute, 38.57-second clocking in a field of 42 in the 55-years-old category to deliver the first medal for Team Philippines before Lavandia surprised the field with a third place finish in hammer throw (21.27 meters) in women’s 60-64 years-old section.

Team Philippines, whose participation here was ensured by its former president Manny Ibay of the Philippine Sports Commission before his death, is backed by San Miguel Corp., Petron, Sportscore, L-Time Studio, Soma, El Lobo Energy Drink, Accel, PCSO, PSC and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

It was Lavandia’s first time to compete in hammer throw since she started vying in the Masters at 45.

Lavandia said she took up a second event while training in Baguio and spent two months honing up for her new event.

She will still compete in the javelin throw where she is considered the top bet for the gold medal.