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Mercedita Manipol ‘Bunso’
Published June 19, 2019
In some cases, courage mattered more than height.
Thus the petite figure of Mercedita Manipol that stood less than 5’0 (known as Bunso) crushed the challenge of her much bigger opponents to emerge as a SEA Games champion in the 2005 SEA Games in Manila.
Bunso still holds the Philippine Record in the 5000m set in the 2003 SEA Games in Hanoi at 16.40.81.
Born 19th May 1980 in San Agustin, Romblon.
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Mercedita Manipol Junior Years
During the 1998 Palarong Pambansa in Bacolod Manipol, the Southern Tagalog Team took silver behind Marites Acomyo in both the secondary girls’ 1500m timing 4.59.7 and 3000m 10.44.6.
By 1999 Bunso was recruited by the East by Elma Muros and her husband, Jojo Posadas.
In the Philippine University Games, Mercedita took the Gold in the 3000 (10.43.9), 1500 (4.56.2), and silver in the 800 2.22.8.
Selected to represent the Philippines at the ASEAN University Games in Bangkok, Thailand (December).
Manipol took silver in both 1500 (4.49.92) and 3000m (10.31.57).
She also went on to win the 10k of the Milo Marathon in 39.42.0.
Mercedita Manipol Senior Career
At the 2001 UAAP. Manipol set new meet records in 1500 (4.46.42) and 3000 (10.48.00), also taking Bronze in the 800 (2.22.44). After graduating, Mercedita would serve as assistant coach to her mentor Elma Muros for several years. She also hails from Romblon, the same as Muros.
In the 2003 SEA Games in Hanoi, Manipol took a bronze in the 10,000m in 34.59.62, narrowly behind Tran (Vietnam) in 34.48.28 and Sutono (Indonesia) in 34.48.93.
In the 2005 SEA Games in Manila, she took the Gold in the 10,000m (35.38.04) and a well-fought silver behind Oliva Sadi (Indonesia) from 16.34.94 to 16.42.17.
She clocked a PB of 9.50.51 to win the 3000m at Palayan City.
Last Years
In the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand, she took bronze at 35.05.57. However, discovered and was coached by coach Posadas. Manipol had worked sometimes with Distance Coach Mario Castro in Baguio leading up to the SEA Games.
She won the Thailand open 5000m in 2008 at 17.54.40. But the highlight of that year was becoming Milo Marathon Queen timing 2:58.38 on her first attempt.
By 2009 already a veteran at 29, now under Mercedita Fetalvero, she took bronze in the 5000m 17.12.09.
Sources:
- http://www.philstar.com/sports/726650/bolivar-fetalvero-lead-milo-laguna-qualifiers
- https://www.iaaf.org/athletes/athlete=200151
- https://www.philstar.com/sports/2005/04/17/274206/manipol-open146s-2nd-double-gold-medalist
- http://arrs.auguszt.in/runner/25791
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