CITY OF ILAGAN, Philippines — From Olympian Eric Cray and fellow national team stalwarts to highly-regarded Fil-Am prospects to comebacking bets and fresh aspirants and even young guns – practically everyone who’s considered best and brightest in Philippine track and field – take to the oval to showcase their skills for the next three days in the Philippine Athletics Championships at the City of Ilagan Sports Complex here.
Hurdles specialist Cray and other overseas aces like sprinters Kristina Knott, Kayla and Kyla Richardson, Zion Corrales Nelson and Robyn Brown, debuting pole vaulters Natalie Uy and Alyana Nicolas, middle distance runner Carter Lily and returning long jumper Donovan Arriola and Italy-trained pole vaulter EJ Obiena headline the big field answering the starting gun in the trackfest that jumpstarts Team Phl’s selection process and preparations for the Southeast Asian Games.
Elite home-grown nationals led by long jumper Janry Ubas, triple jumper Harry Diones, sprinters Eloisa Luzon, Anfernee Lapena, Michael Carlo del Prado and Clinton Bautista, and javelin thrower Melvin Calano as well as top junior bets like Ilagan City’s very own pole vaulter Hockett delos Santos, fresh from his golden feat in the Southeast Asian Youth Athletics Championships, are also featured in the meet that drew close to 1,000 participants, including foreign competitors.
“I’m just here to compete,” said Cray, who signed up for the 4x100m relay and 200m run but not his pet 400m hurdles. “No 400m hurdles yet. I just want to build up, shake my legs up (in this competition). The ultimate goal is the SEA Games and to race in more relays to hopefully qualify for the Olympics.”
Kayla Richardson, who won the 100m mint in the 2015 SEAG, also sees action in the 4x100m and 200m events.
“It’s going to be the outdoor season opener so I’m excited to see where I’m at right now,” she said.
The trackfest also sees some of the stars plunging into a different territory.
For one, Obiena, the current Phl record holder in pole vault, makes a bid in the 110m hurdles, too.
“Ang focus ko is to do good in the 110m,” said Obiena, who actually competed in the said event in the UAAP and even won the gold in 14.39 seconds. “I registered and I should be qualified for the SEAG (pole vault event) already because I jumped 5.40m so I’m hoping to be good enough to qualify for 110m. I hope to hit close to 14.1, 14.2 and eventually below 14 to be there.”
According to Patafa official Nonoy Unso, the Top 5 performers in the PAC (also known as the National Open) will make it to the national training team that will have its base in Lingayen, Pangasinan prior to the SEAG. After more tournaments until September, the Top 3 will be named to the final SEA Games roster.
Notes: Barcelona Olympics veteran Edward Lasquete, three-time SEAG champ and the first Southeast Asian to break the 5-meter mark in pole vault, is making his Phl homecoming here while mentoring Fil-Am Alyana Nicolas. “It feels great. It’s been a very long time and I’m seeing a lot of familiar faces,” said Lasquete. “I think it’s time to contribute to the (Phl) team and bring over what we’ve been developing there.”