FORMER Asian long jump queen Marestella Torres-Suang finds herself in the unfamiliar role of underdog when she competes in the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games next month.
But Sunang is unfazed, relishing the prospects of pulling off a surprise in her pet event she dominated in the 2005 Philippines, 2007 Thailand, 2009 Laos and 2011 Indonesian editions of the regional meet.
She owns the SEA Games mark of 6.71 meters set at the Indonesia Games in the South Sumatran provincial capital of Palembang 11 years ago.
“Okay lang po ‘yong maging dehado po ako sa Vietnam. Pero huwag lang po silang malingat at baka maka-sorpresa po tayo,” said the campaigner from San Jose, Negros Occidental, who will be the oldest entry in the women’s long jump event at 41.
In her latest outing during the Milo-Patafa performance trials at the Philsports track oval last March 24, Sunang, who holds the national record of 6.72 meters, jumped six meters flat, lower than the 6.11 meters she did at the Imus Sports Stadium in Cavite last month.
She, however, said the dip was no cause for alarm since “my fitness and conditioning coach Mel Lantin together with coach Joebert (Delicano) are making certain that I peak at the right time for Vietnam.”
