Heritage run breeding ground for SEAG bets

The Philippine Track & Field Association (PATAFA) identified the recently held Pasig River Heritage Marathon as one of the specified training grounds for international runners who will participate in the coming 2005 SEA Games in Manila.

PATAFA secretary-general Ben Silva-Netto said the PRHM which took place Feb. 29 is one of only two major local marathons sanctioned by PATAFA, the governing body for track and field and long-distance running.

"PATAFA is always on the lookout for best time established and making official tally of it as a Philippine record," Silva-Netto said.

Silva-Netto, the country’s first Olympic marathoner and an accredited technical official of Asian marathons, said the Pasig River Heritage Marathon has improved vastly in the past two years and is still improving.

"It is a good venue for our long-distance runners to get the necessary experience and competitiveness that will help them cope with the challenges they will meet in international events," Silva-Netto said.

"The advocacy of rehabilitating the Pasig River which is the mission of the PRHM gives this long distance race a dimension that will develop our runners’ patriotism and national fervor in international competitions," he added.

The national team members in long-distance running who will participate in the coming SEAG are fourth PRHM champion Roy Vence, Vietnam SEA Games gold medalist Allan Ballester, Philippine record holder Eduardo Buenavista (who established a best time of 2:18:44 during the BEPPU International Marathon in Japan), Christabel Martes, (who won the gold in the Asian Marathon Championship (women’s division) in Hongkong with a record time of 2:45:48) and Flordeliza Cachero, gold medalist in the 2003 first Manila Marathon (women’s division).

Buenavista is now training in Baguio for the 2004 Olympics in Athens.