Last Updated on September 3, 2022 by Andrew Pirie
Lolita Lagrosas Dawn of the Iron Maiden
Published October 11, 2017
Before Elma Muros, no other female Filipino athlete was as versatile as the Iron Maiden of Asia. Her range extended across the High Jump, Long Jump, and Pentathlon. The Pentathlon was a multi-event for women until the Heptathlon replaced it in 1981. And had 5 events instead of 7.
- 80 Hurdles
- High Jump
- Shotput
- Long Jump
- 200m (800m in 1976)
Born in Naawan, Misamis Oriental, August 24, 1938 in Naawan, Misamis Oriental near Cagayan De Oro (Roberts, 2020). She excelled at provincial meets in Hurdles, jumps, sprints, and throws. This led to a scholarship at Far Eastern University.
Above all, the 5’4.5 Lagrosas earned three medals at the Asian Games.
- 1958 High Jump Silver
- 1966 High Jump Silver
- 1966 Pentathlon Bronze
- 1970 High Jump Bronze
In the 1965 Taipei Dual meet, she took Gold in the High Jump, Long Jump, and Pentathlon.
Lagrosas was also a double Olympian, having competed at the 1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico Olympics. Her Personal bests were 1.69m in High Jump (1970), 5.71 in Long Jump (1966), and Pentathlon 4131 points (1968).
In conclusion, Lagrosas, after retiring as an athlete, served as the head coach of DLSU Manila for many years before retiring around 2004. She also coached St. Scholastica and among her athletes included Cherry Ann Janiva and SEA Games Decathlon Bronze medalist Edward Obiena.
Reference:
13 Sports Legends Who Proved Filipinos Are Kickass Athletes | FilipiKnow. (2016, August 3). FilipiKnow. http://www.filipiknow.net/legendary-filipino-athletes-in-sports-history/
Lolita Lagrosas • Far Eastern University. (2021, March 2). Far Eastern University. https://www.feu.edu.ph/index.php/feu-sports-hall-of-fame/lolita-lagrosas/
Roberts, M. (2018, August 20). On This Week in sport History ~ Asiad Athletes | Playing Pasts. On This Week in Sport History ~ Asiad Athletes | Playing Pasts. https://www.playingpasts.co.uk/this-week-in-sport-leisure-history/on-this-week-in-sport-history-asiad-athletes/
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Andrew was elected Vice President of the Association of Track and Field Statisticians in 2020 after being a member for 7 years.
He has worked as a PSC Consultant and Research Assistant from 2013-2015, Consultant, and Sprint Coach at Zamboanga Sports Academy from 2015-2017. And Currently is Consultant Coach with VMUF 2021-
Current editor and chief of Pinoyathletics.info, and has recently done consultancy work for Ayala Corp evaluating the Track and Field Program.
Coaches Sprints, Middle and Jump events he is Level 3 Athletics Australia Coaching Certification in Sprints and Hurdles.
Currently working towards a Masters Degree in Education.
He can be contacted on [email protected]
You can find more information on Coaching here
http://www.pinoyathletics.info/coaching-2/