All that Annie Albania wanted to do was to be able to keep in shape while awaiting for more stints in the ring. Albania is a topnotch boxer and won two gold medals in two recent Southeast Asian Games.

Yesterday, she wore another hat – that of a javelin thrower. And she surprised everyone by winning the gold in the event in the Milo National Open track and field championships at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The 25-year-old RP flyweight had a gold medal leap of 35.16 meters, beating a pack of collegiate bets in the process.

Janece Alvarado of Far Eastern University was second with 30.61m, while Mica Sibayan of Ateneo de Manila claimed third with 28.11m.

It was Albania’s second medal following a bronze finish in long jump, supposedly her pet event.

“Nagko-cross-training lang ako. Gusto ko kasi kahit sa labas ng ring, ensayado pa rin ako,” said Albania, a former athletics varsity at the University of the East under coach Elma Muros-Posadas.

Besides the long jump and the javelin throw, the versatile Albania is also competing in heptathlon, where she finished second in the 100m hurdles (16.50sec) and third in high jump (1.39m).

“Nag-e-enjoy ako kasi kahit papaano, nakakapag-compete ako sa ibang sports,” said Albania who hails from South Cotabato.

Also winning gold medals yesterday were national team veterans Rene Herrera and Joebert Delicano

Herrera, also a two-time SEAG gold winner, topped the men’s 3,000m steeplechase with a time if 9 minutes, 6.09 seconds, beating University of Baguio’s Hernani Sore (9:17.98) and FEU’s Nelbert Ducusin (9:21.48).

Fellow SEA Gamer Delicano captured the men’s long jump gold with a 7.31m winning leap, outshining TMS Ship Agencies bets Teodoro Nonato and Arnold Villarube with 7.19m and 6.86m, respectively.

RP team member Mercedita Manipol, however, was not so fortunate and finished silver in the women’s 5,000m behind Korean Min-Jung Choi.

Manipol and Choi were neck-and-neck before the visitor sprinted away in the last six laps and finished with a winning time of 17:05.02sec. Manipol came in with 17.42.48sec.

FEU’s Romnick Herida shared the day’s honors by crowning himself the meet’s fastest man by winning the men’s 100m run.

Herida, a PRISAA multi-gold medalist, timed 10.87seconds and outclassed Villarube (11.08sec) and Team Cebu City’s Anthony Santillan (11.17sec).

Sharon Jizmundo of TMS Ship Agency ruled the women’s century dash with a time of 12.33 seconds, besting Agnes Gacusan of Bulacan State University (12.63sec) and teammate Luville Dato-on (12.68sec).

Other winners in the second day of the event were Loralie Amahit (46.21m) and Vanrazil Leo Tangub (24.30m) in the women’s and girl’s hammer throw, respectively; Jenny Agato (1:04.34) and Marjorie Umipig (1:09.69) in the women’s and girl’s 400m hurdles; and Flordeliza Donos (2:25.40) and Cristina Mostrales (2:29.32) in the women’s and girls’ 800m run, respectively.