JORDAN, Guimaras - A local son has made Guimaras island proud.

Long distance runner and champion Rene Gamarcha Herrera, 26, is one of only 11 sportsmen chosen by the Philippine Olympic Committee to represent the country in the 2012 London Olympics in August.

The strapping young man from the capital town of Jordan earned the nod of sports officials due to his consistent, high-caliber performance in the Southeast Asian Games, where he topped the 1,500- meter and the 5,000-meter run events.

Herrera joined the 10 other London-bound Philippine athletes who were presented to the media in Manila earlier this week.

When asked on his physical conditioning, the soft-spoken Herrera replied in his native Ilonggo language he has not reached his peak yet.

Herrera will leave for Hong Kong July 1 to compete in the HK Inter-City Championships Open Meet.

On July 4, he flies on to London for a rigorous, one-month training.*PNA

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