It was definitely not the Southeast Asian Games she had pictured.

Sheena Atilano's hope for a gold medal in her favorite event, the 100m hurdles, was left in tatters due to a pulled hamstring she sustained when she competed in the 100m sprint preliminaries Friday.

The 27-year-old athlete from La Carlota City, in an email message to the DAILY STAR yesterday, said she has been advised by her doctor not to compete in the 100m hurdles today to prevent the aggravation of her injury.

With her season-best of 13.65 seconds, which is also the Philippine record, Atilano would have been the top seed for today's event at the His Majesty the King's 80 th Anniversary Stadium.

Atilano prepared extensively for the SEA Games, training in the United States for four months from February to June, before smashing the old record of 13.66 seconds of Elma Muros in Pune India in late June.

Atilano will also miss the 4x100m relay today.

Two other Negros Occidental athletes --- Julius Sermona and Joebert Delicano --- gun for gold medals, after falling short in their first events Friday.

Loralie Amahit of Binalbagan is also competing in women's hammer throw today.

A silver medallist in the 5,000m, Sermona of Libacao, Himamaylan vies in the 10,000m run, while Delicano sees action in the long jump, hoping to better his bronze finish in the triple jump.

Only Arniel Ferrera of Cauayan has struck gold among the Negrense athletes so far (see page 1 story).

Another Cauayan athlete, Rosie Villarito won a silver in javelin throw, while Arnold Villarube bagged the bronze in men's decathlon Saturday.*CPT

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