Tracksters step up Rio drive abroad

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Track and Field Association has started sending its athletes abroad for training with hopes of producing another qualifier for this year’s Rio Olympics alongside Fil-Am hurdler Eric Shauwn Cray.

Athletics chief Philip Ella Juico yesterday said runner Melvin Guarte, relay specialist Edgardo Alejan and steeplechaser Christopher Ulboc are leaving for Perth, Australia next week to train for three months.

“We’re sending them to Perth next week because we want to maximize our chances of qualifying more athletes to the Olympics,” said Juico.

PATAFA has already sent pole vaulter EJ Obiena, one of the country’s brightest hopes to qualify for Rio, to Poland last December.

“He trained in Poland under coach Vitaly Petrov since December,” said Juico of Obiena, who will compete in the UAAP on Feb. 17 and the Asian Indoor Championships in Qatar this summer.

Long jumper Marestella Torres, meanwhile, is training separately under a private group with an eye on an Olympic slot.

Cray clinched a Rio berth after passing the qualifying standard in Los Angeles last year.

Cray, a Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, timed 49.12 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles, easily making the 49.40-second Olympic qualifying standard.