NAY PYI TAW – Action in the centerpiece athletics event fires off today with middle distance runner Archand Christian Bagsit, long jumper Henry Dagmil and hammer thrower Arniel Ferrera spearheading the Philippines’ bid at the Wunna Theiki Stadium here.
Bagsit came so close in his SEA Games debut in Palembang, Indonesia two years ago, barely losing the 400m run gold to Indonesia Heru Astriyanto.
“He has improved a lot since Indonesia,†said Phl athletics team leader Luisito Arciaga on the eve of the sport’s kickoff. “This time, he’s one of our strongest bets for the gold.â€
Bagsit, then only 20, lost the 400m gold to Astriyanto with a clocking of 47.71s to the Indonesian’s 47.53 in Palembang.
But Arciaga is also pinning his hopes on a slew of others, including Dagmil and Arniel Ferrera, who are trying to improve on their silver medal finish two years ago, as well as Benigno Marayag in the long jump, lady pole vaulter Riezel Buenaventura and heptathlete Narcisa Atienza.
Like Bagsit, Edgardo Alejan is also entered in the 400m run, and if they survive the morning heats they proceed to the afternoon finals.
Getting just two gold medals for the day would be good enough for Arciaga. “All we want is a good start to fire up the team,†he said.
Arciaga himself added his team is gunning for six golds, saying they have enough materials to reach that goal.
He specifically referred to the likes of hurdler Eric Shauwn Cray, 1,500m and 3,000m steeplechaser Jessica Barnard and high jumper Tyler Ruiz.
“Si Eric lang, pinakamaganda sa buong Southeast Asia in terms of 2013 performance, kasi he’s clocking around 51:30 in the 400m low (hurdles),†Arciaga pointed out.
The gold-winning clocking in the last SEAG was 51.45s.