Loraña, Roda, Balderama end PH Athletics meet with 2nd golds

MANILA, June 16 ------ Hussein Loraña, Jessa Mae Roda and Rica Balderama added a second gold to their collections at the close of the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships, Sunday night at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.

Meanwhile, the national men's 4x400-meter relay team capped the meet with a gold of their own, making up for the loss of their counterparts in the 4x100-m. Loraña decided to run the men's 1500-m -- an event that he last competed in at the 2019 Batang Pinoy National Championships in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Running a calculated race, Loraña pulled away in the last 80 meters, checking in 3:49.12 to complete a golden double after his victory in the 800-meter race the previous day. "I tried to sense myself after winning the 800-meter race the previous night and I was only able to get five hours of sleep due to overthinking," said Loraña. "My father coach Bonifacio told me if I felt like I was capable of running the event then I should go for it. Eventually I was able to get two more hours of sleep before the early night race," he added. "I am so glad I did."

Loraña is set to compete in the inaugural Asian U-23 Athletics Championships on July 9-12 in Ordos, China. He and his father/coach are still deciding if he will also run the 1,500-m at the Asian Games in Japan this December. Roda, for her part, added the women's 1500-m gold to her trophy case after clocking 4:37.01. She had won the women's 3000-m steeplechase earlier in the meet.

Meanwhile, Balderama added the women's triple jump gold to her earlier mint from the long jump, after a leap of 12.42-m. Sharing the limelight was the national men's 4x400-meter team, led by Mico del Prado -- son of middle distance running legend Isidro del Prado -- who anchored the squad to a commanding win in three minutes and 13.25 seconds.

The other team members were Frederick Ramirez, Alrhyan Labita and Kharis Pantonial, all coached by the elder Del Prado. "Actually, hindi ako member ng 4x100 but grateful kami sa performance sa 4x100 kasi hindi naman sila yung original members ng 4x100. Biglaan yung assemble nung team. So proud ako sa performance nila," the younger del Prado said. "Yung team ko naman sa 4x400, happy naman ako sa performance nila. We fought a good fight. And thankful kami we finished strong and healthy for everyone," he added.

The KG Mercuries, who pulled off an upset in the men's 4x100-m relay on Saturday night, wound up with silver (3:14.31) while Team España took bronze (3:18.68) to complete the podium. The La Salle-Taft quartet of Ashley Mecel Tabad, Jamaica Kate Saligan, Erica Marie Ruto and Lea Krizdea Ordinario outran two other squads in clinching the gold medal in the women's 4x400 relay in 3:56.78.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com