Fil-Am a cinch to rip SEAG throw mark

MANILA, Philippines - Fil-Am thrower Caleb Stuart primed himself up for a record feat in the Southeast Asian Games in June as he heaved 68.66 meters in the Ben Brown meet in Los Angeles over the weekend, topping the SEAG hammer throw mark by over six meters.

Stuart, a 6-2, 250-pound former University of California-Riverside standout who acquired a Philippine passport recently, eclipsed not only his personal record of 67.24 but also the current SEAG mark of 62.23 held by Thai Tantiphong Phetchaiya, according to Philippine Sports Commission consultant Andrew Pirie in his blog pinoyathletics.info.

He also shattered the national record of 61.69 by Arniel Ferrera by about seven meters.

The 24-year-old Stuart will be eyeing not just the hammer throw gold but also the shot put title in the 38th SEAG set June 5-16 in Singapore.

Stuart’s personal best in shot put is 17.88m, which is a little over the current SEAG record of 17.64m owned by another Thai Thawin Khachin and the national mark of 16.74 by Eleazer Sunang.

Stuart will showcase his throwing skills here next week as he confirmed participation in the National Open slated March 19-22 in Sta. Cruz, Laguna where he will represent the Phl Air Force team.

PSC commissioner Jolly Gomez was the first to identify Stuart through a sister of the latter who plays for the national women’s softball team.

Stuart is seeking to become the most dominant thrower to compete for the country since Fil-Mexican Josephine dela Vina copped the 1966 Asian Games and Asian Championship gold and finished 11th in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.