Host Philippines up against tall odds in SEA youth track

ILAGAN, isabela, Philippines — Host Philippines seeks to overcome tall odds and steal some thunder from the powerhouses as the 14th Southeast Asian Youth Athletics Championships unwraps today at the City of Ilagan Sports Complex here.

An outnumbered but spirited delegation of 25 athletes and coaches, led by top prospects Daniel Rambacal in hammer and discus throw and Hokey delos Santos in pole vault, sets out to carry local pride against better-equipped rivals led by fancied Thailand, which enters a full complement in the two-day meet for the 13-17 age bracket. 

Also set to provide tough challenge for Phl are bets from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Timor Leste.

Philippine Athletics Track and Field Assocation (Patafa) president Philip Ella Juico said he expects the Pinoy youngsters to fight despite facing tough opposition.

“Thailand, for one, is sending 52 delegates with entries in each of the 36 events so handang handa talaga sila,” he said. “(In contrast) we can’t have entries in all events and we only had the team together for a few days, a week at most, given the (overlapping) calendar of (local competitions like) Palarong Pambansa and Batang Pinoy and school. But I remain optimistic.” 

The athletics chief said he anticipates each competitor in the trackfest that drew 117 players and mentors to give it his all as he’s also gearing up for the bigger meet coming up – the Asian Youth Championships set March 15-17 in Hong Kong. “They’re preparing for the Asian Youth, that’s why there’s so many countries here,” said Juico.

This will the second time for the Phl and the “Corn Capital” to host the annual SEA Youth, having staged it before in 2017.

“This is part of our international commitment to help promote youth athletics and to expose our young men and women to Southeast Asian level, quality competition,” said Juico.

The SEA Youth will also serve as a prelude to the 2019 Philippine National Open Athletics Championships slated later from March 6-8.

Top Fil-Am spinters Eric Cray, Kristina Knott, Kyla and Kayla Richardson, Zion Corrales and  Robyn Brown, pole vaulters Nathalie Uy  and Alyanna Nicolas, and middle distance runner Carter Lily are coming over to see action in the National Open, which will jumpstart their buildup for the Southeast Asian Games.