Cebu City tracksters to defend crown

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City team is hoping to defend the overall title in this year’s Milo National Open Track and Field Championship on May 21-23 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

The team’s composition was finalized since last month based on the performance of the athletes in the regional meet and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) National Games.

CHED National Games’ fastest man, Lindley Fran Navaja and Kent del Rosario will spearhead Cebu team in the 100 and 200 meter sprint events.

Dharl Pitogo for 110m and 400m hurdles, Ernesto Ybañez for long, triple and high jump and Carl Jeannette Malazarte for 3000m steeple chase.

Palaro standouts, Daniel Noval and Ivan Castañeda, however, will not be suiting up for Cebu City.

Noval, Palarong Pambansa’s fastest man, decided to ditch the Cebu team to don the colors of Ateneo de Manila University in the national open, but clarified that this doesn’t mean he will be enrolling in the said school since he has not decided yet.

On the other hand, Castañeda, who won Region 7’s first gold medal in the 2010 Palarong Pambansa, refused to join for some reasons.

Team Cebu City assistant coach Lyle Larida said that Noval and Castañeda’s absence will not greatly affect the team’s performance.

“Last year, the same line-up in the men’s team bagged the over-all championship title, so I guess these men will be the same people who could get the title this year,” said Larida.

She added that Navaja and del Rosario will carry the team in the sprint events and Ybañez in the jumping events.

Navaja was the gold medalist in the CHED National Games and owns a better record of 10.4 seconds compared to Noval’s 10.9.

Ybañez is the defending champion in the national open. Record-wise, he still holds a better jump compared to Castañeda. 

In the distaff side, Larida is eyeing on the exemplary performances of Irin Baluran in the jumping events and Sheena Gacayan for the 800m, 1500m and 3000m long distance.

“We are aiming for the over-all championship title. We hope and pray that we could make it this year,” said Larida. – THE FREEMAN