NAY PYI TAW – Tumapos ang Team Philippines sa athletics event ng 27th Southeast Asian Games na may 6-4-3 gold-silver-bronze medals.
At naungusan nito ang 2-9-5 output ng athletics squad sa Indonesia noong 2011.
“This team is composed of new and veteran plaÂyers, and we will be depending on the new crop of plaÂyers to keep our tradition of excellence in the sport,†sabi ng bagong officer-in-charge ng Philippine AmaÂteur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) na si Philip Ella Juico.
Plano ni Juico na pagsanayin ang athletics team sa United States sa ilalim ng paggiya ng mga US coaches at makipagsabayan sa mahuhusay na atleta sa 2014 Asian Games at sa 2015 Southeast Asian Games.
Sinabi ni American coach Ryan Flaherty, nasa liÂkod ng matagumpay na kampanya ng 24-member track and field team sa Myanmar SEA Games, na ireÂreÂkomenda niya ang 20-member Filipino team na magÂsanay sa US simula sa Pebrero.
“The spring training will be from February to April when competitions in the US are held on a weekly basis,†wika ni Flaherty, kinuha ng Philippine Sports Commission para maging strength and conditioning coach ng track and field team sa Baguio City.
Bilang bahagi ng kanilang training, sasali ang natuÂrang mga atleta sa 20 tournaments katapat ang mga proÂfessionals at collegiate players.
“We must work out a long-term program that will ensure a flow of talents and our competitiveness in the next SEA Games, which is only one and half years from now,†wika ni Flaherty.
Kabilang sa mga tiyak nang magsasanay sa US ay sina 2013 SEA Games gold medalists Archand Christian Bagsit (400m run), Henry Dagmil (long jump), Eric Shawn Cray (400m hurdles), Christopher Ulboc Jr. (3,000m steeplechase), Jesson Ramil Cid (decathlon) at ang 4x400m relay team nina Bagsit, Isidro del Prado Jr., Julius Nierras at Edgardo Alejan.
Nasa listahan din ni Flaherty si dating marathon bet na si Eduard Buenavista at hammer thrower expert na si Arniel Ferrera.