GOLD WINNER. Netherlands-based Rachel de Weerd wins gold for the Philippines in the 45-49 category of the women’s 5,000-meter run in the 22nd Asian Masters Athletics Championships at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac on Nov. 11, 2023. She also won gold in the 10,000m and a silver in the 4X100m relay event. (Contributed photo)
MANILA – Netherlands-based Filipina marathoner Rachel de Weerd defied slight fever to win two golds and a silver medal for the Team Philippines in the 22nd Asian Masters Athletics Championships held from Nov. 8 to 12 at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.
De Weerd, a native of Ifugao who migrated to The Netherlands in 2001 after she and her Dutch partner, Jan, got married in the same year, won her first gold medal after dominating the 45-49 category of the women’s 5,000-meter race on Saturday.
Rachel finished the race in 21 minutes and 00.28 seconds to beat Tehereh Behkam of Iran who won silver in 25:34.04 and Sidhu Renu Kaur of India who settled for bronze with a time of 27:04.88.
On Sunday, Rachel bagged her second gold medal in the 10,000m with a time of 42:54.17, way ahead of Irina Salykova of Kazakhstan (45:12.07) and Kaur (55:11.87), who won silver and bronze medals, respectively.
She won her silver medal in the 4X100m event with Brenda Ramos Zinampan, Maricar Taguinod Gammad and Marissa Reyes Tumpalan. Malaysia won the gold medal while India took the bronze.
“I was so nervous because I’m not feeling well before the tournament,” the 49-year-old ultrarunner said. “But now, I’m so thankful that I won not one but two gold medals and a silver on my first Asian Masters.”
Meanwhile, Emerson Obiena, father of the World No. 2 pole vaulter EJ Obiena, set a new record in men’s pole vault 55-59 category after registering 3.60 meters to also win the gold medal for the Philippines.
He defeated his brother, Edward, who settled for silver medal (2.70m) and Panhacharam Jayakumar of Sri Lanka (2.30m) who won bronze medal.
The Philippines finished third overall with 42 gold, 41 silver and 35 bronze medals behind India (70-63-82) and Japan (58-25-18).
Completing the top 10 countries are China (40-32-26), Malaysia (29-41-29), Thailand (29-22-16), Kazakhstan (27-13-8), Sri Lanka (25-34-25), Iran (22-19-12) and Mongolia (21-24-31). (PNA)
