A JAVELIN STAR IS BORN Let it fly, Gennah

and what to impart to Gennah.

When national team throwing coach Fresnido, who was already eyeing her when she was younger, took over, Gennah became some sort of a legend in several regional and national meets.

Smasher of records

In 2019, Gennah debuted in the Palaro with an unofficial hurl of 46.57 meters right on her first attempt, smashing by over five meters, Avegail Beliran’s 2018 mark of 41.46 meters.

The official national junior record, set by Fil-heritage athlete Cerah Moran in

2017, was 45.74, which Gennah nearly shattered in April during the Calabarzon regionals with her 45.6.

“Nagustuhan ko po (javelin), iba kasi siya,” said Gennah, who is expected to turn the sport into a byword, the way Obiena did with pole vault.

The entire package

And for good reason. Gennah’s big smile can light up a room, while her statuesque figure will always stand out in a crowd. And did we say she’s pretty?

And of course, the skill. The power. That’s what differentiates her from hun- dreds of athletes before.

Bright future

Entering the Cambodia SEA Games without any expectations of sorts -- just soak up all the learning -- Gennah went further and even bettered her own record by over 4 meters, hurling the javelin to a distance of 49.55, just three behind the winning 52.6 of Thailand’s Jariya Wichaidit, last year’s silver medalist, who took many SEAG tries to finally hit paydirt.

Gennah said the javelin initially slipped off her fingers, and it flew to a measly 4.1 meters.

“Nagalit po ako, kaya binuhos ko lahat sa sunod na bato ko,” said Gennah, who like Bruce Banner is someone you don’t like being angry.

“She’s the future,” gushed national team coach Jojo Posadas. “Time will come, kapag nabigyan ito ng magandang break, ma-expose, ‘yung high-level training program, mamo-motivate ito tiyak.”

In Gennah’s case, there’s no need for any kind of encouragement. Simply hand her the spear and she will let it fly.