PHNOM PENH. – Vanessa Sarno extended her reign in the women’s 71kg category, grabbing the gold with ease and in record fashion Monday despite the lack of sleep in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games weightlifting competitions at the Olympic Stadium here.
Sarno, 19, who just came from the Asian Championships in Jinju, Korea, where she had three silver medals, first cleared 105 pounds in the snatch on her third attempt, shattering her own record of 104 pounds set last year.
She then lifted 120 on her first attempt in the clean and jerk for a total of 225 for the gold.
She didn’t push herself any further after that, passing up on the chance to break her own SEA Games records in the clean and jerk (135kg) and total lift (239kg).
“Kaya naming ituloy. Pero si Vanessa ay galing pa sa Asian Championship na Olympic qualifier. Mataas na ang level ng performance niya doon. Dito pababa. Ayaw namin siyang masira dito. Ang goal lang namin was to get the SEA Games gold,” said Sarno’s coach, Tony Agustin.
Agustin said his ward had earlier unofficially tied her SEA Games record with a total of 239 during her silver performances in Jinju, from her lifts of 107 in the snatch and 132 in the clean and jerk — the reason why they did not have to push Sarno any further.
As it turned out, Sarno didn’t have to exert herself, as she completely outclassed her rivals here.
Taking the silver was Thipwara Chontavin of Thailand with just 208 (17 pounds behind Sarno), followed by Indonesian Restu Anggi with her 206 total (19 behind).
“Wala pa po kaming masyadong tulog pagdating namin galing Korea. Pero ini-enjoy ko na lang po ang sarili ko,” said Sarno, a native of Tagbilaran, Bohol.
Sarno bagged the Philippines’ second weightlifting gold a day after Elreen Ando’s record-smashing performance in the under 59kg category.
The weightlifting team also had four silvers, courtesy of Angeline Colonia (women’s 45 kg), Lovely Inan (women’s 49 kg), John Febuar Ceniza (men’s 61 kg) and Rosalinda Faustino (women’s 55 kg).
