Ayala trackfest begins; focus on SEAG hero

ILAGAN CITY, Isabela, Philippines — SEA Games double gold medalist Trentan Anthony Beram sets out for another imposing stint as he competes in the 400m run even as Christopher Ulboc seeks to reclaim his spot in the national team in the 3000m steeplechase at the start of the Ayala Philippine Athletics Championships at the City of Ilagan Sports Complex here today.

The 22-year-old Beram, who topped the 200m dash and 400m run and anchored the Phl’s bronze medal feat in the 4x100m relay in the Kuala Lumpur SEAG last year, is tipped to dominate fellow national team mainstays Edgardo Alejan Jr. and Ryan Bigyan of Air Force and Joan Caido of University of Baguio in the featured event set at 3 p.m.

Beram, member of the select national squad sponsored by the City of Ilagan, is also scheduled to compete in the 200m tomorrow and 4x100m Sunday.

Interestingly, Fil-Am Eric Shauwn Cray, also a SEAG gold medalist, was also in the start list of the 200m and 4x100m alongside Beram.

Cray is also listed in the 400m hurdles on Saturday.

“It will be an event to watch out for because we will see who will challenge Beram the most,” said national team coach Jojo Posadas.

Ulboc, the 2013 Myanmar and 2015 Singapore SEAG 3000m steeplechase gold medal winner, on the other hand, hopes to put up an impressive showing here in a bid to get back into the team after getting sidelined by a plantar fasciitis injury for almost two years now.

“Hopefully I could clock 9.05 minutes and make the national team again,” said the 27-year-old Ulboc, representing Air Force.

The men’s long jump, set at 5:30 p.m., will also feature Aries Toledo, the strongest man in Southeast Asia after ruling KL SEAG decathlon, Janry Ubas of Run Rio-University of the Phl and Julian Reem Fuentes of Phl-City of Ilagan, guaranteeing a spirited duel for the gold.

Baguio City’s Cristabel Martes, who copped a pair of golds in last week’s Phl National Games in Cebu, heads the cast in women’s 10,000m run firing off early morning. Also set at 6 a.m. are the men’s shotput and women’s high jump competitions.

Five golds are up for grabs in the morning events while 20 more will be disputed in the afternoon competitions, including the women’s and girls’ 100m hurdles, boys’ discus throw and boys’ pole vault.