By MARK REY MONTEJO
Trackster Bernalyn Bejoy is indeed a joy to watch.
Not only she’s charming, she’s as fast as a gazelle, too.
Bejoy, along with veteran shot putter William Morrison III, gave the Philippines something to be proud of during the recent 2025 Korean Athletics Open after winning their respecting events at the Yecheon Stadium in South Korea.
And don’t forget Hussein Loraña, too.
Lorana was edged out of for the men’s 800m gold, but managed to impress as he bettered the legendary record of Gintong Alay star Isidro del Prado in the Taipei Open also over the weekend.
He clocked 1 minute and 48.67 seconds to surpass Del Prado’s 1:48.90 mark set in 1989 when Lorana was not yet born.
Del Prado is now a member of the coaching staff.
Indian Krishan Kumar took the gold in 1:48.46.
The 23-year-old Bejoy, who used to compete in 400m hurdler, proved her transition to middle distance wouldn’t affect her performance after topping the women’s 800m event where she clocked 2 minutes and 8.44 seconds.
Hometown runner Seo-Bin Lee snared the silver medal with a time of 2:11.46, while Japan’s Salina Hillier (2:15.64) settled for bronze.
Delivering the country’s second gold was Morrison who topped the men’s shot put after heaving 18.80m, besting Chinese Guoyuan Xia (18.55), and Korean Geon-Joo Kim (17.59).
Hurdler Clinton Bautista and middle-distance ace David Matibag produced the silvers for the Nationals in the men’s 100m hurdles and 800m events, respectively.
On the other hand, Leonard Grospe leaped 1.95 meters to settle for a bronze in the men’s high jump, finishing behind eventual gold and silver holders in South Korea’s Jun-un Kim (2.10m) and Hong Kong’s Michael John Kennelly (2.05).
In total, the Philippines took home two golds, two silvers, and one bronze in the Korean meet.
Also in the Taipei Open, sprinter Lianne Diana Pama, high jumper Mariel Abuan, and discus thrower Daniella Daynata achieved personal milestones.
