18-year-old decathlete rips 28-year-old mark

MANILA, Philippines - Not until he can prove his age will his effort be recognized as the new Philippine record.

Jesson Ramil Cid of Far Eastern U posted 6,094 points in the boys’ decathlon yesterday, but officials still could not confirm if he had broken the 28-year-old record set by Dario De Rosas during an RP-US dual meet in Baguio City.

But Cid, who said he’s turning 19 on Dec. 31, still went home smiling after being awarded the gold medal as the 2010 National Open Track and Field Championships came to a close at the sun-baked Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Ben Silva Neto, executive vice president of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association, said once Cid could show his birth certificate proving that he’s not above the age limit of 18, then the record would be his.

In the stands, moments after he won the decathlon gold, the native of Dingras in Ilocos Norte said he could have done much better if not for the searing summer heat. Still, he said he was happy with his performance.

“It was okay. I expected it anyway. But I could have done better if not for the heat,” said the 5-foot-11 youngster, who said he started out as a basketball player until people around him took notice of his jumping ability.

“They said I was a high leaper. So I went into track, tried high jump and long jump, and left basketball behind,” said Cid, a third-year college student at FEU. He has the legendary Rosito Andaya and Jojo Posadas as mentors.

Andaya, who worked with great champions like Lydia de Vega, Isidro del Prado and Elma Muros-Posadas, recalled that De Rosas was already 22 when he set his record, and here comes an 18-year-old trackster breaking it.

Go Teng Kok, RP track and field president, said with or without his birth certificate, Cid, a protege of Michael Keon in Ilocos Norte, deserves a slot in the training pool.

“He has the potential. I already asked my coaching staff to talk with the FEU management so we can invite him in the training pool. We’re preparing for the Youth Olympics in November or maybe he can join the team for the 2011 SEA Games,”said Go.

Overshadowed by Cid’s feat in the discipline that combines 10 track events (100m dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m run, 110m hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw and 1500 run) was Eduardo Buenavista’s own victory.

Buenavista’s dominating performance and Southeast Asian Games hammer throw record holder Arnel Ferrera’s double gold performance were relegated to supporting scene.

Buenavista, last year’s SEA Games gold medal winner in marathon, barely flexed his muscles in winning the 10,000m run with a time of 32:59.07, while Ferrera scored a double by dominating the hammer throw (54.96) and men’s javelin (44.11).

Patrick Unso, who set a new record in boys’ 110m hurdles last Friday, took the gold in the 400m hurdles with a time of 54.18 seconds.

Joining Ferrera, Sheen Atilano (100m hurdles and 200m dash) and Unso in the short list of double gold winners was Rosie Villarito, who won the women shot put (11.08) and the javelin throw (33.04).

Other final day winners were Gregg Vincent Osorio in boys 1000m (35:43.0), Vabesa Membrado in girls 1000m walk (1:02:12.0), Joy Verlie Cabanilla in boys walk (1:01.08.02), Irin Baluran in girls triple jump (11.67), Precious De Leon in girls shotput (9.46), Archand Christian Bagsit in 400m dash (49.75), Chris Joy Bonifacio in men’s triple jump (12.24), Gervy Deriada in boys discus throw (40.25), Blessie Mae Sanchez in 400m dash girls (1:10.88), Michell Barrameda in women’s 400m (1:07.63) and John Rey Bardos in boys 400m (50.28).