MARESTELLA TORRES

One golden leap and the distinction as the sport with the most number of gold medals won for Team Philippines in the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Laos capped a rewarding year for the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA).

Marestella Torres stood at the forefront of the Filipino tracksters’ bid, bagging the gold medal in the women’s long jump of the Asian Athletics

Championship in Guangzhou, China, and then later, spearheading the track and field team’s haul of seven gold medals in the SEA Games, two of them achieved through record-breaking fashion.

Recognizing the merits of PATAFA’s achievements, the Philippine Sporstwriters Association (PSA) will confer the National Sports Association of the Year award to the organization.

PATAFA is among the top sports personalities and entities that will be honored by the PSA during its Annual Awards Night presented by Coca-Cola, on March 1 at the Manila Hotel.

The 27-year-old Torres, whose feat in the Asian athletics meet ended a 22-year-old gold medal drought for the country, has been named Athlete of the Year by the oldest media organization in the country.

Also named Athletes of the Year were women billiards player Rubilyn Amit and the women’s world poomsae champion team of Camille Alarilla, Janice Lagman, and Rani Ann Ortega.

To be honored with the Athlete of the Decade award during the rite also presented by Smart, Pacific Online System Corporation, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Harbour Centre, and PCSO is boxing great Manny Pacquiao.