MANILA, Philippines - Hangad ng Philippine Sports Commission na ipadala ang ilang miyembro ng track and field team na naka-gold sa nakaraang Myanmar Southeast Asian Games noong Dis-yembre sa United States para magsanay sa ilalim ng batikang American coach na si Ryan Flaherty para sa kanilang paglahok sa 17th Asian Games sa Incheon, South Korea sa Sept. 19-Oct. 4.
Sinabi ng PSC chairman at Incheon Asiad chief of mission Richie Garcia na ang mga atletang nais nilang pagsanayin sa Amerika ay sina Fil-Am hurdler Eric Cray, long jumper Henry Dagmil, decathlete Jesson Rammil Cid, sprinter Archand Bagsit at ang 4x400-meter relay team nina Bagsit, Julius Nierras, Isidro Del Prado, Jr. at Edgardo Alejan, Jr.
Nanalo si Dagmil, 33-gulang, ng gold sa long jump, si Cray sa 400m hurdles, si Cid sa decathlon, si Bagsit sa 400m dash at kasama rin siya sa nanalong 4x100 meter relay kasama sina Nierras, del Prado, Alejan at Bagsit.
“Unless PATAFA has other things in mind, we would like to send these athletes to train in San Diego, California with coach Ryan (Flaherty) as early as we can so that they will have a long time preparing for Incheon,†sabi ni Garcia kahapon sa meeting ng Asian Games Task Force sa PSC Administration Building sa Vito Cruz Manila.
“Ryan has actually been asking us to get these said athletes to train in the Olympic Training Center there and perhaps compete in some competitions there so they can improve their time and distance and learn more techniques there,†dagdag pa niya.
Ayon kay Garcia, bumilib si Flaherty sa 4x400m relay squad at kay Dagmil.
Sa pagpapadala sa mga tracksters sa US, makakatipid ng oras at pera imbes na ilahok ang mga ito sa iba’t ibang torneo.
“Ryan told us he finds really potential from the relay team and Dagmil that is why we’re sending these athletes to train with him in the US and not waste time going around Southeast Asia,†sabi ni Garcia. “Anyway, their events are measurable and Ryan will find it out and monitor their time and distance personally if they’re in the US.â€