[...] Sports Aficionado : Fil-Canadian sprinter sparkles [...]

[...] Sports Aficionado : Fil-Canadian sprinter sparkles [...]

I hope mag train pa si Jami Dawn Henares. I’ve been a fan ng women sprinters mula pa nung panahon ni Diay nung 1981 SEA Games. Ang daming dumating na bago pero nawala din, ung iba nga mabilis pa talaga kay Henares. 1 min in 400m is not really special. Marami sa Palaro tumatakbo ng ganyan na mga 1st placers pero di na develop o di na bumilis, maliliit kasi o mahirap ang pamilya. May mga 58secs pa nga nun na 16 lang. Si lydia nga 54 at 16 yo pero todo suporta ang family nun lalo na si Tatang nya. But Henares is tall so i hope magsipag siya sa training. 2 hours sa umaga ng sprints 150 to 200 at 1.5 hours sa hapon ng middle distance na 800 ang takbuhin nya for training. Tapos kain ng marami. Mahirap mag 400m, combination siya ng speed at endurance. Kaya need din nya tumakbo ng 5k minsan minsan. Manghingi din cya ng tips kay Isidro del Prado. Expert yun sa 400m. i hope mabasa ko si dawn lagi sa newspaper. Kasi fan talaga ko ng Athletics natin.

Talunin kaya nya ang anak ni Elma Muros na si Klarrizze Posadas? Mabilis na daw yun, 100m, 12.4, 200m, 26.3 at 59 na yata din sa 400m. 14yo pa lang yata yung bata. Sana magkaron ng rivalry between them parang kay Elma and Lydia dati nun sa Palarong Pilipino 1984 na pinainit ni Keon para sumikat ang athletics sa pinas at hindi puro basketball na lang.

I think Henares will eventually beat Klang Posadas. Talented ung anak ni Elma pero tamad magtrain, di nun nakuha ung disiplina at tapang ng nanay nyang c Elma. At saka laos na din ung tatay nya magcoach na c Jojo Posadas. Sorry po Ms Elma pero talented nga ang anak mo pero mukang pasulpot sulpot lang ang training sa athletics at mas hilig pa yata mag internet at mag basketbol. I just wish Henares will run 55secs soon by age 17yo, otherwise di nya katulad ci Elma o ci Lydia.

Well the current fastest that we have since Lerma Balauiatan seems to be Sharon Jizmundo. Kaya lang parang kabute lulubog lilitaw. Nag 11.8 yata yun sa Brunei. last year. Mabagal pa rin sa asean or asian level pero yun na yata talaga lang kaya natin. Matuk mo pinadala si maristella torres sa IAAF sa japan na ang tagal na di tumakbo0 sa 100m. Ayun nag 12.44secs at kulelat. Token representative na nga di pa pinadala ng PATAFA ang best 100m sprinter. Hehe long jumper na injured pa. Patakbuhin na lang natin ulit si Diay. Hopefully bumilis si Henares sa 100, 200 at 400m agad dahil nagiging boring na ang PATAFA. Di gaya ng panahon nila Del Prdo, Elma at Lydia; kaliwat kanan ang golds sa asian level.

Henares time I hope will improve a lot. She better be ready with the competition coming from Klang Posadas, Elma Muros daughter. She needs to run 58 sec in 400m this coming Olympic Festival, 25.8 for 200 and 12.6 in 100m. These are the decent times if she wants to be compared to Lydia de Vega. Her times now are good but slow for int’l competition her age. But keep up the training.

I am shocked that Henares did a 1.07 mins lately in 400m, 27.2in 200m and 13.6 in 100 and her coach were proud of these times! Even in rainy conditions these times though they were records in that meet are all pathetic. She better work harder if she wants to approximate at least Lydia de Vega.

Ano na po ba nangyari kay Honey Joy Ortaliz na pinadala ng PATAFA sa High Performance Training Center IAAF sa Malaysia? Sayang, iba na lang sana ang ipinadala. May pagkatamad at di consistent kasi si Honey Joy kaya walang mangyari sa career nya sa track.

Kelan ako kaya uliy makakakita ng mabilis na filipina sprinter na matutuwa ang sambayanan gaya ng nagawa ni Lydia de Vega. Ang dami dami nilang binibangit na bago pero hanggang bago lang at di consistent sa performance, andyan si Jami Dawn Henares, balitang magaling daw at katulad daw ni Lydia pero di naman talga katulad ng kay lydia ang mga times nya Yung anak ni Elma na si Klarrizze Posadas na impressive ang mga times sa 100m at 200m pero bihira naman sumasali sa track at mas gusto pa yata mag basketball, si Lunille Dato-on, at 17yo dapat tumatakbo na ng 12.2secs na electronic sana sa 100m (nung kabataan ni elma sa Palarong Pilipino nung 1984 she ran 12.11 secs, si Lydia at 17YO was running 11.76 secs) pero hanggng ngayon 12.5 pa lang inspite of advanced techniques! Merily Teodosio na pride ng Phil Olympic Festival 2006 sa Nueva Ecija winning 6 events daw e di naman gumaling! Hay naku. Kawawang track. Sana may lumabas na masipag magtrain at takot matalo tulad ni Diay. Sana may lumabas ng mabilis at focused sa kani-kanilang oras. Measured naman ang 100, 200 at 400m kaya sana every year nag i improve sila. Bakit nun sa Gintong Alay record conscious ang mga athletes? Sana may lumabas na.

Oo nga po pala, ano na po ba ang nangyari kay Honey Joy Ortalez na pinadala ng PATAFA sa IAAF High Performance Training sa Malaysia? Sabi nila nagte train daw yun for SEA Games 2007 e wala naman sa list ng team na papadal dun ng lumabas na ang Team Phils? Sayang. Alam ko tamad mag train yun at di consistent. Sana iba na lang pinadala natin kung talagang wala naman daw gastos dun ang PATAFA. Nakpanghihinayang po.

Yung mga nagtetrain lang po sa sarili nila at walang coaches advice ko lang lalo na ung naguumpisa pagputok ng starting gun, atakihin agad ang pagbuwelo. malaking factor ang start sa pagbilis ng times sa sprints, magtrain ng may humihila sa likod nila, magweights lalo na para sa upper body nila (chest at shoulders), praktisin ang start ng 30meters mga 20x at 150 ng 20 a day 3x a week. panuorin din ang mga video ng mabibilis tumakbo sa america sa http://www.youtube.com, type lang nila 100 meter sprints. Sana bumilis pa po kayong lahat at magsipanalo ng maraming ginto sa athletics for Phils! ;>

Im afraid that no one really has come close to Lydia De Vega’s records even at Junior level. None of these girls are worthy of comparisson. And that is both Klang and Jami. In my opinion the best junior girl sprinters after Lydia were Chantal Balani who ran 11.7 in 2000, and a girl called Maricor Cuenca who ran 11.96 Filipino but ran in Australia never ran for the Philippines. Jizmundo, Breanne Bumanlag and Krizia Apelar were also relatively good. Both Klang and Jami are nowhere near as good as the others listed here. And i definatley would not be bragging about 1m07 for the 400m that is NORMAL!!!!!

Here is my list of the Top 10 Junior Girl Sprinters ever (some are filipino girls who ran in other countries). I just included Electronic Times not handtiming
(Hand Timing = bullshit timing) and doesnt count as proper official timing. Hand timing is ok for events 400m and up as it is more accurate.

*Take note how Jizmundo is not in this list as most of her times are hand timed.
*Krizia Apelar has ran 25.27 wind assisted and is still a Junior (born 1989)

Im unaware Klang Posadas ran 58 seconds at which meet was this at, i have not seen the official results???

I dont think the person who wrote this article like a lot of sports writers in the Philippines actually know very much about the sport, he seems to have gotten very excited and carried away with something which wasnt really that spectular at all.

Jami performance at this stage is not even a top performance for any of those 3 events as you will see in the lists below

JUNIOR WOMENS 100M ALL TIME

11.76 Lydia De Vega-Mercardo 1964 New Delhi 27/11/1982 Philippines JR Record

12.12 Chantal Issey Balani 1982 Manila 22/06/1905

12.15 Maristella Torres 20/2/1981 Manila 2000

12.20 Maricor Cuenca 2/01/1988 Sydney 2003

12.23 Honey Joy Ortaliz 10/11/1984 Manila 2001

12.40 Breanne Bumanlag 1988 Sacramento 8/05/2004

12.42 Krizia Apelar 1990 Manila 2004 Fil-am

JUNIOR WOMENS 200M ALL TIME

23.54 Lydia De Vega-Mercardo 1964 Manila 11/11/1981

24.77 Maricor Cuenca 2/01/1988 Sydney 2002

25.12 Sharon Jizmundo 1986 Manila 2005 SEAG

25.15 Chantal Issey Balani 1982 Hong Kong Jul 3 - 1982

25.23 Maricor Cuenca 2/01/1988 Sydney 2002

25.24 Honey Joy Ortaliz 10/11/1984 Manila 22/9/2003

25.54 Jonah Garao Genilza 23/5/1981 Rajamangala 1999

25.67 Amelia Francisco 1981 Bacolod 1999

25.71 Breanne Bumanlag 1988 Stockton 11/05/2005

25.75 Leslie Cercardo 1983 Manila 12/06/2001

JUNIOR WOMENS 400M ALLTIME LIST

54.75 Lydia De Vega 1964 Manila 13/12/1981

57.24 Jonah Genilza 1981 Bangkok 12/02/1999

58.4 Marife Swanque Pampanga 1990

58.4 Honey Joy Ortaliz 10/11/1984 Bicol 2002

58.5 Ma. Dela Paz Banebane Koronadal 2007

58.5 Ma. Andria Mendoza Bicol 2002

58.65 Sharon Jizmundo 1986 Manila 16/4/2005

59.2 Pedrina Krezel Koronadal 2007

59.5 Sorufia Tapsing Gen. Santos 2007

59.9 Cristina Malunes 1986 Bicol 2002

Do you have the male results for the 100m,200m,and also the long jump results. i cant really find any results when im searching the internet.

also, is there any compitition in phil. that i can compete in. if there is please send me some information and the background of the compitition. SALAMAT! SEE YA

My wish list for our SEA Games 2007 Track and Field representatives:
1. for Sheena Atilano to run at least 13.38 secs in 100m hurdles. Kahit silver I’ll be happy with that time.
2. For Sharon Jizmundo to run 11.80 secs in 100 meter dash and 24.8 or better in 200 meter dash. Kahit walang medal okay lang basta maayos na times coming from a new comer.
3. For Henry Dagmil to jump past 8.0 meters or possibly 8.05 in long jump for men and for him to qualify in Beijing Olympics. May injury na yung Malaysian long jumper Josbert Tinus so just winning a gold is not enough bec malaki ginastos sa kanya ng PSC.
4. For Joebert Delicano to jump around 7.70 meter range sa long jump. Naiwanan na siya kasi ni Henry Dagmil. I find him disappointing kasi he showed so much potential as a young athlete yet very slow ang improvement.
5. Mary Grace Milgar- I hope she runs below 1 min sa SEA Games, 400 meter hurdles. I was very disappointed with her last performance sa SEA 2005 running over 1 minute kung kelan crucial pa siya tumakbo ng ganun.
6. I wish manalo tayo ulit sa women’s & men’s marathon courtesy of Cristabel Martes and Vertek.
7. I wish manalo ang Philippine men’s team sa 4×400 meter relay at tumakbo naman sana ng 3:06 range. 3 kasi sa kanila ang kaya mag sub 47 (Aing and Candelario) at mabilis na rin si Julius Neri, so i hope they work as a team for that time or breal the Phil record.
8. I field events I think our Javelin thrower and discus throwers can win golds but I wish they can give respectable records worthy for asian level competitions. Kulelat kasi sila pag Asian games na e sisiw lang naman yung mga kalaban nila sa SEA Gmes.
9. I wish Mr Go Teng Kok will achieve his dream of 13 gold medals or possibly more pa.
10. I wish they will be fighter this SEA Games and train harder on the way there.

Good Luck Philippine Team!

Sayang si Chantal Balani. Alam ko ayaw ng mother nya mag track ang anak nya. Wala yata daw future. I saw Chantal ran 11.7 nung 2000 sa Rizal track oval beating Marestella Torres na nag 11.9. They were both juniors then. I hope what PATAFA does is find tall and young (14 or 15 yo) girls who can run around 12.8 to 12.5 and support them very well. I think that’s what happened to Lydia. Tatand de Vega was supporting very well her daughter’s training, maiyak-iyak na si Diay nun sa training yet she was forced to her limits by her father who at the same time was her coach when shw was 12. Someone has to support our budding sprinters, a relative or maybe the a Phil track body. Ang tagal na walang pumalit kasi kay lydia. Hindi naman siguro siya freak ano for the Phils not to have another asia’s fastest woman?

In order of responses, yes Elizar i have all the lists for Juniors and Seniors. I kept track of it myself. I added Elma Muros 12.11 to the list, which is second after Lydia thanks Bong.

Elizar there is a competition from Nov 12 to Nov 19 in Manila Philippine Olympic festival final. You might be a bit late for that im going to the Philippines next year to compete at the nationals. email me at pirieandrew@gmail.com if you want any more info. Where are you from i take it your based in the US??? Im training and based in Australia.

Whereas Bong i see you know your stuff, Im surprised at your predictions for the SEA Games. Im taking an optimistic view on this.

Sheena Atillano yeah should win gold she has had a good season and good training in the US.

Sharon Jizmundo is she even in the team
she hasnt even made the SEA Games bronze medal standard.

Josbert Timus will win the long jump i have no doubt Dagmil will qualify for the Olympics and jump over 8m but i see it happening next year as he isnt 100% atm. I know Dagmil personally and talk to him online and was also in the university track team with him.

Yeah Joebert was like 1cm off the Philippine record for ages and then Dagmil peaked and blew away the record in 2004.

Melgar was injured last sea games had something wrong with her ankles, have to go alot faster than 1 min to win gold.

I think the Thai sprinter will win the 400m he has already ran 47.4 indoors which is 46 outdoors. He will kill the opposition at sea games.

To be honest of all the individual sprinters only Albert Salcedo 10.72 in 100m and Julius Nierras 47.1 400m deserve to go no one else has earned the right.

Thailand will beat Philippines in 4×4 as they have 4 runners all running below 48 consistently. Bano, Aing and Candelario have ran mainly 48 this year and Nierrras has been consistent at 47.

With Ralph Soguilon injured it now seems pointless to have a 4×100 relay. Ralph would surely have medalled in the 200m and possibly the 100m.

My predictions for Philippine Golds
Marathon - Buenavista???
Javelin - Danilo Fresnido 71m (edging closer to the 72m record)
Hammer - Arnel Ferrera (a sure thing with wins in last couple of sea games and just getting better with age)

Womens
100m Hurdles - Atillano
Manipol in some of the longer events
LJ - Marestella Torres

I think 13 is a bit of an ask. but its ok to dream.

Joselito, i ran at those same games with Chantal Balani, that was the Philippine Nationals in 2000. I remember seeing this much bigger girl running against all these small girls. I got Bronze in the Junior Mens 100m Final at 16 (raced 18,19 year olds and a guy who was 22 and not supposed to be in final), and ran 11.0s in each of the rounds. I broke 11 seconds when i was 15 and ran 10.86. Im certain Lydia was a lot quicker than 12.5 - 12.8 when she was 14/15. Cause i usto have her coach Claro Pellosis who told me she was running 12.0 - 12.5 when she was that age. Apparently Lydia even ran below 23 hand timed a couple of times when she was a senior.

Yahoo Messenger = pirieandrew@yahoo.com or MSN Messenger = pirieandrew@hotmail.com
if anyone wants any more info or lists.

I saw Stephanie Mercacado’s picture 2 days ago playing volleyball for La salle. At the time I saw Paning at the track oval w/ her mother Lydia de Vega was when she was 3 years old. I know I was not the only person then hoping she will succeed her mother at the track; but knowing how difficult track is, I think her mother will discourage her. But again 2 days ago I thought I hope she will still consider. Doing volleyball could make her legs fit. And with her athletic lineage (Tatang de Vega used to be a long distance runner and her lola a sprinter), she still might excel in 100 meter dash. Ms Stephanie Mercado, we wish you to run the 100 meters like your mother. Sana!

I am excited to watch Jami Dawn Henares in POF, 2007 in Manila. I hope she will spark interest anew in athletics here in the Philippines the way Lydia de Vega did in the 80’s. Marami ang pumupunta sa Rizal oval. But for this to happen she must really produce impressive times for her age. She has a ukrainian mother perhaps that explains why she runs already fast inspite of little training. But she must work harder and learn to attack the starting blocks quite fiercely. I worked before with eastern european people and their women are really tough, hindi mahihinhin like our filipinas. They wont midn lifting huge suitcase 3or 4 pieces w/o any assistance from men. My dream for her is to run 12.2 in 100 at 15yo, 24.9 in 200m, same age and 56 sec same age. Might be too much to ask but she must have a strong mind to meet these. i guess with her and her parents support that’s possible. Good luck in the festival!

It reminds me of when Lydia at 16 in an asian atheltics meet in Japan, she ran 24.5 electronic electronic and was dubbed by the japanese ‘the flying girl from bulacan’. And also days before she turned 16 at Sea games 1981 in Manila she did an amazing 23.54 secs in 200m. I hope Henares will become like that in the future. With her times now…still way, way far. But she must still in her mind the japanese way of continuous improvement.

Erratum: days before she turned 17 (and not 16yo in reference to Lydia de Vega at the SEA Games in Manila 81). Sorry, I am already old to remember all these records by memory. /bong

To Jami Dawn Henares and Sharon Jizmundo: Now that I’ve mentioned continuous improvement I think I better say something about this and how to apply this in sprints, I think these 2 girls are likely to be the top filipina sprinters soon if they will only train hard. It’s if you think you’ve reached your peak (after getting the official timing), but still you will continue to train harder in spite of the fact that the body says di ko na talaga kaya. An example is when de vega ran 11.43 then in 1987 asian championships, then she felt she must win the 100m dash in 1987 SEA Games bec ironically at that time, although she was dubbed Asia’s fastest woman, she hadn’t won a gold in 100 m dash yet (in 1981 she was not an entry; in 1983, she was nipped at the finish line by Walappa Pinji, in 1985 itwas the thais who dominated, Sripet and Srithoa), so right afterthe AAA the next competition then was the SEA games 87 and I think Lydia and Tatang must have felt they must break this jinx of losing in 100m dash inthe SEA Games. So she trained harder and pushed herself further, thus produced incredible times in 100 dash in 1987 SEA Games, an 11.31 sec in heats and an 11.28 in the finals (AAA and SEA games 87 were a mere a month apart). Del Prado did the same in 400m when he set his 400m Phil record of 45.57; weeks before he set this he first lowered his time of 46.24 to 46.19 andthen lowered it further one more time (i forgot) and to the 45.57! All these happend in span of 4 to 8 weeks. To avoid injury try incorporating swimming inyour training so that hindi lagi pounded ang feet nyo. But don’t play in the pool. You must work really your legs under water. Doing weights can do the trick of adding speed also ( by doing upper body exercises like bench press). But since you are too young wag muna. Baka Mabansot lang kayo. You need to have a very determined mind to be able to do this. remember that to think is to create. If you think you can bethe fastest woman in the world you can be if you dream and work hard for it. I was surprised that one of the fastest woman sprinters in100 meters (i think she won in 1992 olympics) has in her records a height of mere 5′4”! I think you guys can do the same. If you will do something in your life time, might as well become the best of it. Good Luck.

To PATAFA:

I think you made a wrong decision of sending Alex Gabito as a replacement for the injured Ralph Soguilon. Alex being 32 has already reached his limit in 100m. In fact I had an impression that he will be sent bec of favoritism (since her wife is now a PATAFA coach; I admire Lerma and have nothing against her). I think since we are sending anyway athletes who are not qualified to approximate the bronze standard at the minimum, we should have sent young deserving juniors instead, 17 or 18yo. I’ve been an ardent follower of Phil athletics for 30 years and I hope Mr Gabito will prove me wrong in the SEA Games.

Many thanks for these people for making Phil athletics fun this year, as of October,2007:

1. Sheena Atilano- for her dramatic improvement in 100 meter hurdles from 14.4 to 13.65secs. WOW!

2 Ralph Soguilon- for lowering further the 100m (10.45 na ba?) and 200m phil records (21.1 secs? I forgot the exact time). But I am happy that finally our 100m and 200m dash men’s records are faster than the 100m and 200m women’s world record. Dati kasi our men’s 10.56 is embarrassing compared to the 10.49 of Florence (US female sprinter) and our 21.44 of Del Prado is slower than Florence’s 21.37 (21.39 ba? Makalilimutin na talaga). LOL But I am saddened by his injury. Get well soon Waldy.

3. Mary Grace Milgar is back! I wish she can do better than her 55.6 secs in 400m and 59 something secs in 400m hurdles. She was described one time as an “future asian games beater” by Jojo Posadas. But til now still not happened. To be that star she must work hard (swim in between to avoid injuries) and run 55 sec in 400m hurdles and 52.5 in 400m. Whew! That’s a lot of hard work. But I am happy to see her again.

4. Klarrizze Posadas, Isidro del Prado, jr and Renato Unso,jr.- I am all smiles to hear that they are following their parents footsteps. I hope I will see them win in my lifetime.

5. Jami Dawn Henares- I am intrigued by the build-up of POF for this girl. But I think she CAN be the next Phil Track Star but that will all depend on her and her determination to succeed. But my wish is that she will not be like Merily Teodosio whom I have not almost heard in 2007 after her 6 golds in POF2006, juniors(except for a silver or bronze in last month). I think we need a very strong junior training center for PATAFA to take care of these talents.

Just this til now.

I dont know about Stephanie Mercado. But Leslie Mercado was a good Hurdler of Filipino origin back in the US.

as long as its not bullshit hand timing. The IAAF doesnt care if the times are with stop watches as this is very inaccurate.

Not so good news on Philippine athletics as of Oct, 2007 (from my point of view :)):
1. Ralph Soguilon’s major injury!
2. Lack of funds for foreign exposures of athletes.
3. Marestella’s 12.44secs in World Athletics Chmpionships! And representing the 100m? Last time i heard her did this was in 2000 where she finished second behind Balani.
4. Marestella being sidelined by injury. I think She’s a wonderful long jumper though (a 5′2″ jumping 6.63 is so wow!)
5. Henry Dagmil’s injury that sidelined him the whole 2007 ( recuperating in US? That must be such a waste!
6. Honey Joy Ortaliz wasting her training at the IAAF High performance training in Malaysia. We should have sent other deserving athletes instead. I really think she’s a very unfoucused athlete. Sorry.
(the only bright note in her career was running a 24.81 in 200m last 2005. 24.81 may I say is not really a bright note, but with so many poor performances of our female sprinters lately I thought that was a good start. Then she never improving after is depressing).

I’m just wondering, maybe Marestella Torres should start running again the 100 meter dash. Gail Devers, one of america’s greatest sprinters (I think she’s even better than Florence, having ran in so many olympics and world championships and winning) is only 5′3″ yet can manage a sub 11 secs (10.8+) in 100 and a 12.3+ secs (12.37 yata) in 100m hurdles. Marestella is 5′2″ and does wonders in long jump. Maybe she can extend that to 100m. I think she must have thought 100 m wasn’t for her after losing to Balani in 2000. But I remember that competition, Marestella had a very good start and was leading in the first 60meters and was only overpowered by Balani after the 60m mark (Chantal,11.7 and Marestella 11.9). Marestella had that powerful start and only if she can sustain that til the finish I think her limit can go really low (11.4 at most but can be pushed to 11.2). I wish we’ll have a formidable sprinter soon, or formidable sprinters! But again, anyone dreaming to become world class has to have a very tenacious spirit to win and beat the impossible. Wish ko lang mag sub 11 secs pa siya. “impossible is nothing” sabi nga ng isang american sprinter.

Yeah its interesting she ran 23.54 as a Junior. That sort of time would get you into the final of the world youth competition today and do fairly well at world juniors. However as a senior she only managed to improve that to

23.35 Lydia De Vega-Mercardo 64 Walnut 5/10/1986
100m went down from 11.76 to 11.28.

How come she could only run performances around 11.28 at Asian Level and when it came to Olympics and world champs she was stuck at 11.6s-12s runs??? and 24s for 200m.

I watched the POF, 2007 at Rizal stadium. These guys need to work harder to further improve their times and records to int’l standards. These young athletes should be gathered together under one track body and be trained intensively while young like what was done during Gintong Alay days. Romnick Herida has good times in 100, 200 and 400 and I thought his were the only worthy performances and one from zamboanga (this guy who competed in so many disciplines 400m hurdles, triple jump) at the POF athletics finals. Some of the guys need not really be discovered here bec they’ve been performing before in other national athletic events like Wilma de Lara, Jenelyn Progio, however nothing was done to train them under one national body while still young (18 and below). I hope Mr Go Teng Kok sees this bec it is him, the PATAFA and the country who will reap the honors in the end. I remember Muros already competing in 1981 SEA Games at 14 yo and already jumping 5.6+ meters and Perla Balatucan also 14 yo running 12.45sec in 100m dash also @ 1981 Manila SEA Games. Lydia was running 23.54 days before she turned 17 also at Manila SEA Games. Lunille Dato-on, Merilyn Teodosio, del prado and Unso Jr, are worthy members of the new young PATAFA team that should be guided properly to become world class.

I know that Mr Pirie. Unfortunately Lydia became complacent after winning SEA Games 1981 pursuing her movie career and was drowned by the glare of her 1981 achievements, moreso she hated running 400m thus reflected in her times in 200m. Chi Cheng of Taiwan was soooo disappointed with her times in 100 (11.82) and 200m (24.07)in AAA 1983 in Kuwait and scolded her for not improving at all yet Lydia and Tatang didn’t take that as a challenge but instead said something not so nice to her(Chi Cheng used to be one of the world’s fastest woman from Taiwan, she saw Lydia as her heir apparent in the 100 m dash in the world arena coming from Asia). For those who are not into athletics it is difficult to comprehend that ‘one is so talented and yet kept on winning’ but lydia was the best description for that, she trained a few months and still win. Eventually Asia caught up with her in 1985, PT Usha, thais Srithoa and Sripet; so eventually she must do something about her average performance. In 1985 she went home from AAA with a sorry bronze compared to 5golds of PT Usha (her rival). In 1986, Lydia redeemed herself in 100m and could have won the 200m if she didn’t look back (Usha dived and won the gold 23.44 vs 23.47!) by this time Lydia was 21yo and to have improved so little reflected her attitude in training. In 1987 SEA Games she managed an 11.28secs bec a month before that was the AAA (she ran 11.43 and won). SEA Games was really important…see continuation

cont…important for her, 100m an event she had not won. So she trained for that and FINALLY won in 1987! Lydia knew she can not go beyond being asia’s fastest woman bec I think mentally she was not ready and unfortunately NEVER became ready; Ashford and the east Germans were running 10.8’s in early 80’s, in 1981 Helsinki world athletics she could only manage to get through the quarters. For Keon to call her close to being lazy and undisciplined unfortunately were all true in my opinion). Imagine if she has the discipline of Elma Muros, her whipping girl in 200m- from 25.2 to 24.00 (elec) secs lifetime improvement, Lydia might have ran 22.3 secs in 200m or Elena Ganosa (AFP) from 12.57 to 11.9 (elec), Lydia might have ran 11.1 in the 80’s! She was inactive most of 88, 89 and tried to cme back in 1990 after giving birth. In her absence Elma Muros was the Phil athletics darling doing 100m (11.80), 200m (24.2), 400m (55.+), 400m hurdles (58 to 57 secs), and 100m hurdles (13.8) (Elma when I saw her in 1985, I thought she’s lazy too. But she eventually woke up and became the Elma Muros,the STAR of discipline, we know today after Lydia took the long jump from her in 1987. Elma became a lionness, training in so many events with Posadas. By 1989, when Elma was finally back in Patafa’s fold, she returned that favor by jumping 6.52 meters, 1989). In 1991 Lydia managed to get back just in time for 100m but didn’t have the endurance for a fast 200m and lost by a hairline. In 1993 I thought she will make it big in AAA Manila after running 23.35 in 200m in SEA Games same year and better that time finally but there was a major sports problm here that led to a high sports official getting sacked. I hope that answered your question sir.

Bong mate the Philippine records are 10.49 and 21.17 for the 100 and 200. The 10.45 was wind assisted. Soguilon could be out for a while.

I think Romnick Herida is running really well probably better than Jizmundo and Jami Dawn out of the Juniors he did 10.4 the other day. I think he should be taking Gabito’s spot very soon.

Im going to incorporate swimming into my training program here in Australia. See you all next season ‘I will be back’

I agree with you that Honey Joy is wasting here time at High Performance camp. She did run 12.18 which is just as good or not better than 24.81 last year.

Please do not over rule filipino’s who are based overseas. Breanne Bumanlag and Krizia Apelar are more talented than Jami Dawn Henares. Krizia Apelar came 3rd in the Womens 100m/200m racing again adults when she was 16/17 at the 2006 olympic festival.

Marestella is damn strong over starts, she has beaten me over starts before and i’m a sub 11 100m and a sub 22 200m sprinter. She is really strong she squats about 180kg and can hang clean 60kg in sets of 6. She is one of the strongest females in the country.

Bong, Oldman Alex Gabito is 33′ he has been around for 100 years.

Bong as for PATAFA sending Gabito. I think it was a good call. Alex was the alternate for the relay anyway. He is an experienced campaigner and has been in many a relay team. Although he is not as fast as he was in his younger days the emphasis is more on the passing of the baton. And the team is comfortable with Alex, whereas if you have a new inexperienced runner passing the baton he is more likely to screw up the change. Look what happened to the womens 4×100 at the last sea games with jizmundo passing to lerma.

Bong do you have any advice on pool exercises. Im reintroducing them into my training program.

Here is an updated list of
Top 10 Juniors for 100m.

11.76 Lydia De Vega-Mercardo 64 New Delhi 27/11/1982 Philippines JR Record

12.11 Elma Muros 67 Palarong Pambansa 1984

12.12 Chantal Issey Balani 82 Manila 2000

12.15 Marestella Torres 20/2/1981 Manila 2000

12.20 Maricor Cuenca 2/01/1988 Sydney 2003 Fil-Australian

12.23 Honey Joy Ortaliz 10/11/1984 Manila 2001

12.40 Breanne Bumanlag 89 Sacramento 8/05/2004 Fil-am

12.42 Krizia Apelar 90 Manila 2004 Fil-am

12.45 Perla Balatucan 1967 Manila 1981

Bong any comments???

Pool sessions = awesome found one on the net. Improved my 300m time on Saturday to 34.98et.
Doing Aqua today.
And Damn it feels good to be a gangsta.

Mr Pirie, you are right in saying that we should not have sent a men’s relay team (400m relay) now that Soguilon is injured; sending a team there is a waste of money for PATAFA. Instead, two young male sprinters who will be of use in the future will be good investments for future SEA Games. W/o Soguilon, I think they will run 41 secs+ (I’m scared to say they might even run 42 secs!)which may not be even good for a bronze barring any accidents from the other teams. The Thais will definitely get the gold for men’s 4×100. The Malaysians are likely silver medalists since 3 to 5 of their males sprinters apparently ran 10.5’s in their recent trials. The Singaporeans have been fast improving. Even if we get a bronze, I find investing long term on these kids more beneficial. If they really need Gabito, then they should start thinking of sending him to seminars in athletics coaching techniques. There seems to be a dearth of coaches who will guide the young ones from the provinces as reflected in these kids poor improvements. * Also with regards to Sharon Jizmundo failing to pass the baton to Lerma, may I comment that sharon’s failure to do so seems to have become a stigma to her ability for years (one athlete from the crowd screamed at her ‘ang bobo mo!’ which shocked me.). She was very young then but very promising. I also had an impression that sharon was an unprepared alternate after elma muros for some reason didn’t run the 4×100 after brandishing her comeback to help the team. My impression was, after elma backed out and chose the 4×400 instead, sharon was taken to run elma’s vacated post in 4×100. Thus she didn’t have enough practice to adjust to the team; and running in front of so many people that time, she was nervous and thus failed our expectations. I’ve been reading so many articles of sports writers saying ‘another gold was wasted when she failed to pass the baton,’ but the funny truth is, even if she did pass the baton, the phil women’s 4×100 team would not win. And you know that Mr Pirie, records and history tell that we won’t beat the thais relay team even with Muros and de Vega around unless they get and scientifically train our young athletes like Gintong Alay days (but we have not beaten them in this event even in these days lol but I think the the gap will diminish. However, its a vicious circle, PATAFA needs solid funding from business groups and from the government and it also needs to sack its own coaches whose athletes under their wings fail to deliver. i’m sorry to say this but this is one way to help Phl athletics long term. A serious revamp of coaches is needed.

Pool training is not intended to aid in building speed but in avoiding injuries that can be caused by too much impact when exercising on the ground yet maintaining the form acquired from ground training. Thus by incorporating swimming pool exercises with track training, the muscles are given more time to recover properly, better than training on track alone esp when ample training is needed due to, eg coming competition. Water training lessens the injurious impact on the leg and foot caused by gravity. Exercises that should be incorporated resembles much like a swimmer training his/her feet. Good luck.

i accidentally opened this blog and i was surprised that there are also other track and field enthusiasts like me. I’m in my late 20’s now and one time become a track and field athlete and a swimmer. my loved for both sports hindered me to be a national caliber. i train swimming in the morning and run in the afternoon for long years before i realized that it’s not possible to be a top caliber swimmer a

CONT..and a runner at the same time, i got stucked with my times and never peaked to a national level. seeing and hearing from news a lot of new and promising athletes who show potentials to be a future champions gives me hope that one day the philippines will be put back in the asian track and field map.i’m just saddened that after a year or two these young athletes never performed the way they were expected to be, some vanish from the scene, judy joy pasaporte who at the age of 13 or 14 during early 90’s run a marathon in 3:05 something which i think if was properly trained and supported could already be running sub 2:35 at a senior level. but where is she now? Aiza Cometa from Southern tagalog who was the toast of palarong pambansa few years ago run the 100m in 14sec at the age of 12, was never heard of again..what’s wrong with the grassroot program the we have? i want to get involve in a program but i dunno how!!

Bong,

I dont think they will do as badly as 41 or 42. PATAFA would be shitting there pants with that sort of performance. I still think they can run 40 something but thats not good enough for a medal though definatley not the gold. Yeah Thailand will always win 4×100.

I notice PATAFA has entered Sharon at 11.85 for the 100.
To my knowledge this is a hand time they have submitted
as an electronic time aswell Albert Salcedo down as
10.33. These times should be down as 11.90 and 10.40 or
more correctly 11.9ht and 10.4ht.

Either the guy in the crowd who yelled that was an
athlete enthusiast who was pissed off with a dismall
performance or some ideot who didnt know what he was saying. Anyhow if you perform badly in sports ofcourse the crowd will react no sympathy there what so ever.
The Philippines might not have won the gold but they
could have won a medal with good changes be it bronze or
silver.

There has already been a serious revamp, PATAFA fired
Jojo Posadas, Del and Dario left to help coach Team
Brunei. Whose left Sy, Ojon, Mario Castro???….
Lerma coaching the 4×400 ????? has she ever ran a 400??

Yeh thats why i do pool exercises on my rest day, they feel fine but i feel damn tired the day after.

Jockboy - i dont know much about marathons but in my opinion its wrong to have anyone under 20 let alone a kid of 13 or 14 do marathons. Its not surprising there never seen again as they have not built up enough stamina and mileage to be able to cope with too many marathons and are at risk of serious injury even death if they continue to push themselves at this early age.

Aiza Cometa was sent to the world juniors and ran 13 seconds another waste of money from PATAFA.

Both Salcedo and Jizmundo did not make it past the heats. They were 10.80 and 12.47. PATAFA entered them in at 10.33 and 11.85. So both .6 off there seed times.

Bong 13 gold medals prediction for sea games by Mr Go is beggining to seem like a bit of a joke now.

Day 1 of 4 is already over and there are no golds. I’m sticking with my prediction of 5-7 golds. Anyone who thinks more at this stage, probably also believes in fairies.

I do commend Joebert (Bronze) with his gutsy 16.07m taking back his national record from Marayag who did not finish in the Triple Jump. Eleazer Sunang (Bronze) mens shotput (how long has it been since we medalled in this) 15.62m close to the national record of Bruce Ventura. And Julius Sermona 14m24 silver in the 5K just gets better and better. No golds so far but its good to see athletes come out of the wood work like this.

Oh i forget Rosie Villarito in Javelin and Grace Melgar 59.09 improvement. Good work girls. Impressive 10.25 by Agung Wiboyo Indonesia to break SEA Games record of Reanchai 10.26 1999 and beat 2005 sea games champ Sorndee Thailand 10.33.

Day 2 Golds???
Villiarube (Decathlon) medal not sure of gold, some events like high jump a little weak.
Hammer - Ferrera sure gold
LJ - Marestella sure gold
800 - Midel Dique (its an open field if he runs = to or better than his pb he will win).
5K - Manipol (unlikely other two indonesians are very strong)
3KS - Herrera probably gold unsure about other entrees
4×400 - philippines has won the last few mens 4×4 when they had 4 guys who can run 47. I think that this team is a little weaker than usual and could go down to Thailand if there not careful. They will all have to run hard if anyone in the quartet tries to run an easy quarter then they will lose.

sure golds = 2.
possible others = 3.

Bong, The results of the sea games prove it was a waste of time sending Jizmundo. She performed even worse than the last sea games. 12.49???? PATAFA put down 11.85 as her PB. She finished last out of 10. From what i have observed she hasnt improved since the last sea games and this time shows a decline in performance.

Sheena actually deserved to be in the 100m cos she ran a 11.96 PB. She didnt make up some random performance.
I hope Sheena can race her favourite event the hurdles she was down as DNF in the 100m.

The 4×4 who i thought were going to be silver because they were without Aing. Ended up 3rd and Manipol was 4th in the 5k. Thats 2 golds lost for Mr. Go.

Bong, The results of the sea games prove it was a waste of time sending Jizmundo. She performed even worse than the last sea games. 12.49???? PATAFA put down 11.85 as her PB. She finished last out of 10. From what i have observed she hasnt improved since the last sea games and this time shows a decline in performance.

Sheena actually deserved to be in the 100m cos she ran a 11.96 PB. She didnt make up some random performance.
I hope Sheena can race her favourite event the hurdles she was down as DNF in the 100m.

The 4×4 who i thought were going to be silver because they were without Aing. Ended up 3rd and Manipol was 4th in the 5k. Thats 2 golds lost for Mr. Go.

What a jump from Dagmil 7.87m. Philippines still only 5 medals, im predicting one definatley from Fresnido in Javelin and possibly Nierras in the 400m. Either Nierras defends the dominance of Filipino Mens 400m or Zaiful of Malaysia will regain the title he won 8 long years ago.

Korat SEA Games:
What a mess for so many tracksters!!! Only the performance of Henry Dagmil was noteworthy here…jumping 7.87 twice meant he can jump further. I wish he doesn’t rest this xmas and incorporate swimming in his training to avoid injuries during continuous intensive training and finally reach 8.05 meters. Julius Nierras 400m time is good. The Javelin thrower also did good. The steeplechaser did good too but the time is poor, 8:55 :C Marestella Torres jump is poor, If Wassana the thai heptathlete, could focus in the long jump for this games she might have jumped farther and won (She can jump 6.30m and run 57 secs in 400mh and do heptathlon, wow!). Sharon Jizmundo is sooooooo disappointing. I feel sorry for Sheena Atilano, but avoiding injuries during training and competition should have been part of her preparation, running 100m dash was ill-advised knwing that she has no chance at all against the Thais even before the competition. I find Milgar’s performance okay too inspite of winning silver (a low 59). Maybe she should also be sent to US as a replacement to Atilano, she may be a good investment due to her height and dedication to run 400m which requires speed and endurance. Winning five golds isn’t really that bad if the times or their performances can survive in the Asian level. Unfortunately, most of our tracksters, throwers and jumpers won’t land here in the top 3 except maybe for Henry. I wish PATAFA can work on this, that it is not really the number of athletes in their pool but the quality; we have to think beyond winning in the SEA Games level, then maybe PATAFA’s budget will suffice. For now i feel really, really sad.

lastly: What a waste of money, airfare and time for the 4×100 men’s relay team! Sorry.

Philippines still only wins 5 golds (less than half what GTK boasted about).
What an upset in the Mens Javelin, Fresnido throwing below his best to get narrowly beaten by the Thai Thrower.

Well done Nierras 46.56 to climb to 3rd on all time lists behind Del Prado and Perona

45.57 Isidro Del Prado 59 Manila 01/12/84

46.21 Kashus Perona 5/12/1978 Eagle Rock 12/05/01

46.56 Julius Nierras 79 Korat 2007
46.59 Ernie Canderlario 10/05/1977 Kuala Lumpur 2001

46.82 Jimar Aing 6/09/1978 Manila 20/10/2003 Asian T&F 3rd SF
7th F 46.94

47.20 Romeo Gido 61 Pasig 27/4/1989

47.64 John Alipio 84 El Paso 2005

47.5y Carlos Tan Chico 02/06/56

47.70 Leopoldo Arnillo 60 Manila 11/03/85

47.93 Domingo Baylon 75 Manila 25/5/1995

48.00 Clemente Lupangoo Marikina 23/11/1973

Bong. The Javelin Thrower i hope you dont mean Fresnido, his loss in the Javelin Throw after throwing 70m+ and then only throwing 68m and being beaten by someone who throws 68m aswell was one of the upsets of the games along with Surya Agung Wiboyo ruining the 100 and 200m for the Thais.

The 4×4 as soon as Ernie told me Tanuan was substituted for Aing i knew they had no chance at gold.

Sheena was more deserving to go in the 100 than Sharon. Sheena is 11.9 to 12.2 in 100m, whereas Sharon is 12.2 - 12.5ish.

I was very proud of Henry was chatting with him b4 the games. I doubted he was going to win but he dominated the event and it takes extreme mental focus to do that.

For me best performances

1. Dagmil (coming back from injury and a poor season to 7.87m and dominate his opponents).

2. Nierras carries on the legacy of Candelario and Aing winning the 400m at SEA Games with 46.51 the 3rd fastest 400m time ever, and second amongst pure filipinos.

3. Joebert Delicano 16m in the TJ takes back his national record from Benigno Marayag (who failed to perform).

4. Eliezer Sunang ( best shot putter we have had in years, only bronze but better than mentor Nixon Mas and not far off a Filipino record.

5. Marestella Torres (she had to dig deep to win on that final jump, it almost looked like her chances for gold were over but she hung in there.

Dissappointments/upsets

1. Surya Agung Wiboyo ruining the 100m and 200m for Sorndee and Siitichai.

2. Fresnido only throwing 68m after going 70-71m the whole season, beaten by a Thai who threw 68.52m

3. The state of the 4×4 prior to the sea games undoubtedly one of the worse teams ever despite having the 46.5 Nierras in the team.

4. Narcisca Atienza getting accused of failing a doping test.

5. Mr. Go in his usual fashion predicting anywhere from 9 to 15 golds. and coming back with 6.

Also mentioned: Sharon’s 12.49, Sheena’s injury (certain for a medal maybe not gold), Ralph’s injury, the state of the other relay teams,

the 4×1 did ok to go under 41 seconds considering the team was made up of a 34 year old (Gabito), an injured 400m runner (Aing), Salcedo (didnt make it past 100 heats) and a high jumper (Patcheko). It really was a motley crew without Soguilon so i agree with you Bong why bother. I seriously doubt if any of these four besides Salcedo would been in form to run under 11 seconds for 100m flat when selected.

Bong not just the quality of athletes but the depth at which they should choose from. Sharon and others should never have bothered going on the plane. If i was in there situation i would have been embarrassed to hop on that plane knowing that i didn’t deserve to go and wasn’t going to perform, and was just wasting other peoples money. As an athlete you would know by your performances the whole year if you are going to perform well or not at sea games level.

For some athletes such as Fresnido they deserved to go as they were performing well the whole year and under performed at sea games but none the less made the standard. Some athletes in the team didnt even qualify yet PATAFA still wasted money in sending them. Now Sharon hasn’t just stuffed up one sea games but two, kick her out of the team i think, and bring back Honey Joy or a youngster like Breanne Bumanlag or Krizia Apelar who deserves the spot.

I wish we can send legal representatives to Beijing Olympics, like those who have passed the olympic qualifying times or standards for athletics and NOT MERE TOKEN REPRESENTATIVES. The thais as early as now have several, I wish we can have the same too!

sorry Mr Pirie, I was wrong with the Javelin thrower.

Yep as of now they are all token representatives. The closest to qualifying is Henry, he jumped 7.87m off a very bad season. So i believe he can easily jump 8.05m. The other hopefuls were Ralph who is now injured and unlikely to be back this season. My preference would be Sheena if she can may a recovery in the 100m Hurdles rather than Marestella in the LJ. Actually they should have sent Sheena to world champs, as her performance has just got better this season whereas Marestella performance has got worse too the point were she only just wins the sea games.

getting back to the point of this thread. and trying to now get off the tangent of PATAFA poor selection policy, under performing at sea games and my own bloated ego. The topic is Jami Dawn Henares. Going back to the Olympic Festival lets have a look at the results and see how she did. Neither Klarizze or Jami Dawn competed disappointing. Put the two of them up against fil-am Krizia Apelar and see what happens i guarantee they will lose badly, as Krizia got 3rd against the seniors in 2006 olympic festival.

I remember decades back when PATAFA started getting fil-ams to represent SEA games, the Philippines found a goldmine from this pole vaulter ‘the juice’ or Juico so PSC thought of getting more. The next athlete proved to be a big, big, big disappoinment for PATAFA- David Bunevacz was known to have siphoned a lot of money from it and was even brandished then to be capable of landing a top 8 place in the Olympics, but was not even able to land a gold at SEA Games and worse was beaten by a local who was marginalized when Bunevacz came in. You see Mr Pirie, it has often been a disappointment for me whenever we have fil-ams trying to qualify for slots at the national open. As an observer, I expect them to whip badly the local athletes considering that they have trained in US (which has world class facilities and better nutrition). I had big expectations from Kashus Perona when he arrived here before 2005 SEA Games but he was already on a downhill or far from the times and form I saw in the internet when he was in his peak compared to how he performed in the trials 2005 (I think he merely did 47 secs+) and worse, from how he sounded in the newspapers he seemed to be insinuating that he will leave his job in the states if he could get ample support from here (He probably didn’t know how meager the monthly stipend of PATAFA athletes). I had high expectations too from Breanne B and Krizia A then. But Breanne was merely capable of running 25.2 secs (?) and Krizzia was too young and not impressive when I saw her way back in 2005. At 17 I wish she can run 11.8 secs and do that time locally and at least a low 24 secs. I remember again the 1984 Palarong Pilipino where the top 8 finalists have all ran below 12.79 secs (11.76 lydia, 12.11 muros, 12.56 ganosa, 12.62 and 12.63 by Nolido and Sumagaysay, 12.79 Balatucan to name some) and most of these girls were around 17yo and had no gintong alay training. I think it is not enough for her to just land in the top 3 seniors but she must dominate the field. The thai girls have dramatically improved and so many of them have been running regularly 11.5’s and 11.6’s. An 11.8 for a 17 yo is a must. Around 1994 or 95 a hermaphrodite was seen to be lydia’s next successor and the next heroine when she beat PATAFA athletes wth her 11.8 secs. I think anyone who is young and fast will receive the same adulation as lydia. Krizzia can be that, maybe elma’s daughter too. But they have to work harder now and perform well soon. I wish Krizzia will get soon the best guidance and motivation from a world class coach if she hasn’t have one now. I wish in 2008 trials in rizal memorial oval I can watch Krizzia fly in 100 meters. Maybe an 11.7 Mr Pirie?

Juico = High Jumper 2.16m at 18 years old still holds junior record from Sacramento. Senior High Jump broken by Guevarra 2.17m.

Lasquette = 5m is the Pole Vaulter your thinking of who went to the Olympics.

Bunevacz and Perona are both examples of Athletes who would have been better if PATAFA picked them up in there earlier years they were both past there peak playing years when PATAFA got a hold of them.

That sounds like a good field in 1984 for the girls Palaro.

If Krizia trains under coach Gerry Cablayan that is good enough. He trained Ralph and Sheena from 10.60 to 10.45 & 21.55 to 21.17 and 14.47 to 13.66 in hurdles. They both broke philippine records with him. Dagmil is going to train with Cablayan. He use to coach Puerto Rico and is better than all the current coaches on the Philippine roster.

I know this is probably repeated a lot. But i actually quite admire Lydia and Elma as athletes and as people. They both have/had very positive outlooks to not just there own training but encourage others to do there best as well.

Nancy Navalta (Alessandra De Rossi) and Elma Muros (Jenelyn Mercardo) stories were both featured on Mangkalunan Magpakailaman (thats one of my favorite shows when i’m in Manila).

He was a high caliber athlete before but would have had access to better facilities than Del Prado I’m guessing but lacked the time to compete overseas at asian level as was working for AT&T call centre which is almost 24/7.

Kashus Perona
dob 1978
Long Beach
International Elite Athletics Club.

2005
4×400m SEA Games Gold
47.4ht Manila - Time Trials - 2nd behind Julius Nierras (I came last in this race)
47.25 Los Angeles
47.64 Ben Brown International Canada
2004
47.26 Philippine National Champion 400m
21.93 Manila - Bronze behind Thai Runner and Ernie Candelario
46.77 San Diego
2003
No Records
2002
No Records
2001
46.21 Eagle Rock (2nd fastest time in 400m after Del Prado)
21.25 Los Angeles (faster than Del Prado’s 21.44 National record and 2nd only to Ralph Soguilon 21.17).
2000
No Records
1999
47.33 Long Beach
1997
48.14 Long Beach (faster than the 48.22 National Junior Record of Leopoldo Arnillo set in 1984).

The Alltime list for the 400m which Nierras has moved up into third position.
Notice Perona, John Alipio, Carlos Tan and Gabe Cabrerra all Fil-Americans so 4 out of 10 Tan’s time done over 440 yards.

45.57 Isidro Del Prado 59 Manila 01/12/84

46.21 Kashus Perona 5/12/1978 Eagle Rock 12/05/01

46.56 Julius Nierras 79 Korat 2007
46.59 Ernie Canderlario 10/05/1977 Kuala Lumpur 2001

46.82 Jimar Aing 6/09/1978 Manila 20/10/2003 Asian T&F 3rd SF 7th F 46.94

47.20 Romeo Gido 61 Pasig 27/4/1989

47.64 John Alipio 84 El Paso 2005

47.5y Carlos Tan Chico 02/06/56

47.70 Leopoldo Arnillo 60 Manila 11/03/85

47.93 Domingo Baylon 75 Manila 25/5/1995

47.98 Gabe Cabrerra 82 NAIA 2001

And who was the marginalized decathlete who defeated Bunevacz, a very young and upcoming Fidel ‘Toto’ Gallenero.

Bunevacz was a very good javelin thrower. Him, Cawiican and Fresnido were the best 3 the Philippines have ever produced.

Thanks for informing me Mr Pirie. Indeed it’s Lasquete. Thanks. I really believe getting Mr Cablayan is going to be the best decision PATAFA has made for 2008 (if he can withstand the backbiting and crab mentality within PATAFA;). I wish we can have more athletes who can compete at least in the asian level top 3. Milgar should train under Cablayan. I just have the hunch she will run much much better if she trains under him. She is already 26 or 27. She better decide quick and train much much harder than she is doing before if she wants to make a solid mark in Phil athletics.

Philippines never produced Bunevacz (fil-hungarian). He was taken from US and made to represent the Phil. He was PATAFA’s biggest agony (for taking si much money)then for taking so much money, producing a mere SILVER (!) in SEA Games after promising to make it big in the Olympics. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is having problems now with his business partners in Beverly Hils 6750 for spending money that isn’t his (history repeats itself hahaha).

But PATAFA did forked out a million dollars for him so he would have been laughing as he cashed that pay cheque for the easiest $$ ever. Im pritty sure that was more than they ever spent on an entire national team.

Mr Cablayan doesnt need to worry about the PATAFA politics. He just produces good athletes and PATAFA has to take them. Milgar is older than 27 she might be hitting the big 30 this year.

anyone who can make an easy mil and then just sit back and laugh knows what there doing. PATAFA didnt even try and get the money back????

Read this Bong

http://www.mb.com.ph/SPRT20080125115346.html

This is friggin stupid, Dagmil deserves to go more than Nierras. Dagmil is the SEA Games Record Holder, Nierras doesnt even have a national record. If Dagmil doesnt qualify with 8.02 then he doesn’t get to go and Nierras does???? look at the rankings a 7.8-8.0m long jump is going to do better in the olympics than a 46.5 to 48.0 400m. If you ask me its another stupid selection policy which has no logic attached. Fair enough they want 3 in the event, but if he doesn’t qualify this means he misses out on the olympics he deserves to go more so than the others.

I wonder what made Mr Go Teng Kok decide to send Julius Nierras over Henry Dagmil to the 2008 Olympics? I wish Julius is running sub 46 sec or working towards that to justify his sending as a token. I wish he has been training still after the SEA Games bec non-stop training may be the only way to make him reach these fast times. A sub 46 in fact isn’t even enough to reach a semis. Maristella really isn’t my choice for the female trackster, however there is not much choice too unless the female marathoner or Mary Milgar improves dramatically. Is there a problem going on bet the sponsors of Henry Dagmil and Go Teng Kok or Is Mr Go Teng Kok just pushing Dagmil harder to qualify? It’s really a bad impression for a measurable sport like athletics that we are sending mere tokens for the centerpiece event. Look how swimming progressed. Mr Go Teng Kok really has to measure the improvements of his athletes by checking their electronic times in their time trials. I wish Marestella won’t dare jump below 6.3 at the Olympics (she has to really make up for her 12.4 sec in 100 at the World Champ).

All Athletes over 1000 Points

Henry Dagmil -LJ - 7.87m = 1098 points
Julius Nierras -400m- 46.55 = 1084 points
Sheena Atilano -100m Hurdles- 13.65 = 1075 points
Ralph Waldy Soguilon -200m- 21.17s = 1055 points
Joebert Delicano -TJ- 16.07m = 1055 points
Mens 4×400m Team - 3m08.53s = 1051 points
Mary Grace Melgar -400m- 59.07s = 1049 points
Ralph Waldy Soguilon - 100m - 10.45s = 1045 points
Benigno Marayag -TJ- 15.96m = 1043 points
Marestella Torres -LJ- 6.31m = 1033 points PB. 6.63m = 1115 points
Mens 4×100m Team -40.75s = 1028 points
Joebert Delicano -LJ = 1028 points
Sheena Atillano -100m = 1010 points

Like i saidDagmil is a high pressure performer. He will jump 8m at a big comp like the olympics its more likely than him jumping 8m at some low key meet in the US. Dagmil has been through enough
(excluded from national pool pre 2004, injuries in 2007 and now this) and for Mr Go to put more pressure on him is really unfair.

According to what Mr. Go said to the newspapers his decision was based on opinions from his coaches, they begged him to put Nierras in the team as they felt he would rise to the challenge. Note that Nierras coach is ex. National athlete Lerma Buluitan Gabito. Now as a former jumper how could she overlook Dagmil’s talent in the event. Would it have been a different call if she was his coach?

Why do they have to decide now anyway???? why dont they wait till after the National Champs in May/June, then everyone has a better idea of who wants it more. Perhaps you should write to Mr. Go proposing they be a bit more patient on there selections.

For the Womens your missing out Sheena Atilano she went from nothing to alot this year from 14.47 to 13.65 in the 100m Hurdles and performed well at Asian Level finishing 5th at asian champs and top 3 at all of the asian grand prix.

A wise decision would be dont submit token entries yet its only January, olympics is not until August-September. Wait till May after the nationals. Then select who ever is performing best at around that time.

It is a toss up between Sheena and Marestella in the womens token. Because Sheena performed well this year but got injured at sea games, whereas Marestella went downhill but still hung on to her sea games title. For me Milgar has not shown the same level of competiveness as the other two, perhaps she can be up for the challenge in 2008.

Indeed Mr Pirie, what a mess Mr Go Teng Kok has been giving Patafa. I have not really thought of Sheena bec I suspected she got into a major injury last SEA Games and might take some time to recover like Ralph. I just read an article today that she will gun for a 13.1 secs to qualify… so i guess she is okay now and good luck Sheena! You are correct again that PATAFA should wait until the national open to see who really deserves to go to Olympics if none will qualify (how strange that people here are fighting for token slots whereas Thailand has several to send as legal representatives hahaha). I think what Mr Cojuangco should do is to adopt more athletes in track and field for training in US or somewhere else. I don’t see much future for our athletics team reaching world level as long as Mr Go is the head. He did well at the onset of his term giving hope to a headless organization. But he is getting involved in much backbiting and politicking in the past years that he comes up with strange decisions. What a pity!

I’m glad Mr Go Teng Kok is finally holding off his selection for token representatives for athletics in Beijing; but I’m still hoping that our national athletes who are prospects for that very big event will work hard not as token representatives but as legal qualifiers. Lerma Gabito made it in Athens in the long jump; I hope Maristella will strive harder to qualify too in that event and so are Nierras, Dagmil and Atilano in their respective events. I know its a futile exercise for these athletes even to make it there since we know recordwise they might not even land the finals (or top or eliminated outright in the first or second round. But I hope they perform fighting in the big arena like better their national records there. I’m still disappointed and embarrassed by Maristella’s 12.4 secs in 100m at the World Championships in Tokyo. Have they even conducted a performance trials before they sent her there. I remember when Lydia was sent to the initial staging of the world championships in Helsinki way back in 1983, she was competing and training here against the men’s 100 meters national team and landing 4th against them in performance trials in preparation for that. I hope we can do the same preparation. Of course not exactly as lydia did then since this was in 100m. For long jump mental preparation is very crucial. For hurdles and 400m they have to conduct a lot of performance trials for these aspirants and push them to run faster. Good luck. I just wish the best for them.

I think to arouse interest in track and field locally, they have to pit athletes like some sort of rivalry for people to watch in local competitions. Of course we knew that Elma was never a match for Lydia in 100m way back in 1984 Palarong Pilipino. But since Elma bested Lydia when she was injured in 1983 Palarong Pambansa, the national newspapers then and Channel 4 was pitting these two girls like there was big match way back then. They had TV coverages from semifinals to the finals bet these 2 athletes. Rizal Stadium was jumpacked that time. Mr Pirie this is the reason I was so surprised when Maristella was so apologetic with her win over her teammate Lerma when she beat her in Long Jump 2005 SEA Games. I wasn’t expecting that bec I think it was not good for the sport. I think this sort of rivalry is better than pitting Mr Go Teng Kok vs Mr Cojuangco. Maybe locally they should pit Henry Dagmil against this local guy who also does the triple jump (his best is 7.65, sorry sir I forgot your name). Nierras should be pitted against his 4×400 running mates. If some of them were not running 46 lately maybe they feel being neglected since Nierras is getting a lot of attention with his good performance in 400m in SEA Games…just maybe. But in athletics, the centerpiece really is 100m. I was surprised as a young kid why people who don’t know the sport dont understand why athletes dont run in one straight line as in 200, 400 or 800m like people see in 100m. People easily can relate seeing athletes running in 100meters- the competition here is fast and the winner running at top speed is like seeing a performer in a circus (the way I saw it the first time ;). Appreciating athletics here in the philippines takes some effort. I used to see sportswriters of athletics publishing way back in the 80’s the result of top 8 finalists in their column after the write-up which I hardly see recently(maybe that explains the thin crowd in Rizal). Only USA Today does that and I even had to search the web sometimes to know the complete results of local competitions. Sometimes writers just state that an athlete won without even putting the time or record. It’s like saying Ginebra basketball team won over another team without putting the scores. I think Mr Go should get sponsors to get the competitions even it is a replay or just exerpts of their exploits in an intl competition on TV. In 1983 AAA in Kuwait there was a one hour TV special showing how the Gintong Alay did in Kuwait follwed by how they performed in Chinese Natl Games. Not the entire competition and not live of course but mere excerpts of how these atheltes are making us proud abroad might rouse interests for local viewers; seeing themeselves (the athletes) on TV might actually make them perform better bec they are becoming stars. I don’t know how else we can make athletics popular in this basketball infested Philippines lol.

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/feb/02/yehey/sports/20080202spo3.html

read this Bong. I don’t think GTK is right saying Nierras was the solid male performer before SEA Games. Nierras was a nobody until he won the gold at the sea games. Dagmil had already proven himself by then.

I dont think it is right the Philippines can send a relay team as a token. Because a relay team has to be in the top 16 in the world to be selected. I seriously doubt any of the Philippine Relay Teams are likely to be in that bracket right now.

I’ve really never thought Julius Nierras as a worthy olympic representative even when he won the SEA Games. Back in 80’s I was so used to hearing Del Prado runining low 46 and a 45 secs, and even then these times were just average in olympics but awesome in Asia. In fact the year he did 45.57secs i thought then that this time was the tops in ASIA until his asian nemesis, japanese Susumo Takano did a 44.90 secs in Olympics. So now that we are in 2008, does Mr Go think 46.56 is a really good time in the Olympics? unlike in the Long Jump where there is always a lucky jump factor and the possibilyt that big performers might perform poorly. I hope I don’t need to explain this. But let’s see. Maybe Nierras might run suddenly a 44secs and Dagmil might finally reach 8.05 meters. as I have wished I do not like athletes going there as tokens. It is embarrassing!

It’s good that Marestella is finally going to US for training. I think what she needs to work on there is more mental preparation and maybe technique. she needs to perform well in her first 2 initial jumps in any competition esp the big ones. I noticed that she jumps only well on her 5th to 6th try. In a world calibre competition she needs to perform her best in her first three jumps, otherwise she misses the next three and gets eliminated and loses her opportunity to prove her worth. She maybe able to push herself further to 6.75meters. Even if she doesn’t make it in the final 8. I am sure alot of world-class athletes and coaches will be analyzing her jump and check how a 5′2″ can leap that far. Her 6.63m in fact is already too much for her height. So let’s see. Just don’t run 12.4 secs in 100m anymore, okay, esp on a big stage like this. Also please avoid injuries by swimming in bet trainings too. Good luck!

Dagmil is more likely to jump 8.05m than Nierras is going to knock two seconds off his pb.

That is very true Mr Pirie!

Bong is National Open going ahead this year. I would very much like to run.

I heard from a source its not on until PATAFA can find a sponsor to cover expenses.

No news yet. It’s very likely they’ll have it this June. I have a feeling there’s gonna be a lot of strong performers this year especially from the our national athletes; you know people here all want the american dream and may want a share of training abroad. Which is good as long as they prove themselves and perform in competitions. Ha ha ha just a thought. If you do join tell me so I can watch.

Mr Pirie, do you think Sheena can meet the B standard before the Olympics? What was her performance trials best before her SEA Games injury? I feel that’s gonna be a lot of work ahead of her, from 13.65 secs to 13.1. She may have improved dramatically from 14.35 to 13.65 after US, but you think she has the mind and power to clip another .7 sec, rather .55 sec? I wish Dagmil does his best to meet 8.05 in some US meet rather than his original plan of attacking the record in Asian grand prx meets in June. Doing it in June can be mentally straining esp with the Olympics so close and chances slimming.

Heard from a source its tentative for 3rd week of May.

Its unlikely get to go the bank is not giving me time off work. I’m really gutted as i haven’t been to national open since 2003. I was under the impression B Standard was 13.2 or 13.3 not 13.1 If Sheena doesn’t run it she will be close to it.

Performances always are good in an olympic year.

Im going to try and compete well in Australian domestic season maybe have to be patient and wait till 2009.

I think PATAFA should also have a website of all the achievements of its athletes and officials, latest news, athletes profile similar to the website of singapore athletics team. It’s a venue where a track aficionado, like me, read what are the on-going activities, aspirations. performances review of philippine track and field team. PASA already has its own website. I think Mr Go Teng Kok should consider this seriously bec the sport and the athletic association will become more popular and accessible with this. Is there already one?

Atilano opens with 14.18s with -2.5 in March.

Deb Samson two jumps of 4.11m Two national records.

Emerson Obiena 4.93m at Tsaotyun, 44 years old!!! he jumped 4.95m PB when he was in his late 20s early 30s.

Romnick Herida pure poetry on the track wins the 100-200-400 at UAAP.

I think someone should be helping seriously Ralph Waldy Soguilon recover from his broken leg. Bakit naman nabali ulit ang pinalit na steel sa buto nya e di pa naman pala ginagamit ang legs nya for training… e di pa nga yata makalakad ng maayos nabali na? Poor filipino athlete!

Claremont
13.88 from Sheena with +0.0 wind this time, 7.32 from Dagmil. Marestella also over training in US but no performances yet.

Also dont forget Deborah Samson she has jumped 4.11m twice this year to equal her lift time best and philippine record in the womens pole vault.

13.83s for Sheena, 7.39m for Dagmil, and 4.05m for Deborah Samson.

I have a feeling Sheena Atilano will not make the B grade (13.1 secs) in Olympics 100m hurdles judging from her two 13.8 secs times this april in California. By now she should be showing vestiges of performances she is indeed capable of doing that…maybe a low 13.5 secs for april or the 13.4 sec she promised in 2007 SEA Games.

I have the feeling that Sheena Atilano should try running 200 meter dash in small meets to improve her endurance in 100 meter hurdles. This means training for this event too, apart from her pet event, 100 meter hurdles. This could drop her time in 100 meter hurdles significantly. But be very careful cause Olympics is nearing and I want her to qualify and not get injured.

I notice that Sheena seems to slacken towards the end instead of accelarate like world class female hurdles…that’s why I thought running 200m might help her build more stamina in the finish of her 100 meter hurdles. Her start is also too ‘girlie’ and lacks the boom I see in world class races.

After her 3rd to 4th hurdle she ran constant to the last hurdle instead of accelerating. I hope she does something about this. This can be a clue to dropping her time significantly. I really am excited to see her become a world class athlete.

7.73m (+0.3) for Dagmil and 13.70s (+0.6) for Sheena in Hurdles. Thats Sheena’s second best time ever and probably one of Dagmil’s better jumps. Time is of the essence now.

It seems Luville Dato-on has not improved much in long jump and 100 meters since last year. So is this girl Ruffa Bargola. But I think if PATAFA is thinking of pooling young athletes for future competitions..they should be taken in. So are the sons of del Prado, Unso and Tabunan (?). They need to be shouted and pushed like what Keon did his GA athletes seriously.

Narcisca Atienza the Heptathlete has been stripped of her sea games medal she won in Bangkok 2007 by the SEA Games federation for failing a doping test. Further action is upto the sports organization now.

Torres 6.31m & Kashus Perona 48.33.

Dagmil placed 2nd with 7.85m Long Jump at UC Irvine with +0.9 wind thats his second ever best jump after his 7.87m sea games record last year. Marestella Torres 5.94m only in LJ. Sheena, Kashus and Deb Sampson didnt compete.

Dagmil is showing the determination and dedication to getting to the olympic games. He probably should have got that automatic wild card entry which has been given to Julius Nierras.

Hello, Im the current Nat’l shotput record holder, and just thought I’d say hi to Mr Go. If someone can relay this message I’d appreciate it.

Bruce Ventura

Torres 6.19m, Deb Sampson 4.10m, Dagmil 7.66m, & Sheena 14.49!

Bong - I had word from the man himself that Waldy is not coming back from injury, apparently its very severe.

Sheena injured herself in the hurdles, its unlikely she will qualify for the olympics now. Its a case of too little too late now. I think she was on the way to running 13.4s in the sea games.

Bong why would she need to run 200m???? thats well over the 100m you run in Hurdles. Doing some 120s or 150s in training would sort out the problem. 200m seem like an awful long way for a 100m Hurdler and you also run a curve in a 200m which doesn’t really help at all in a hurdles race. Perhaps running some 110s or 120s on the straight would be better.

Luville who??? Ruffa who???? seriously never heard of them.

Seriously though i was very impressed with Del Prado Jr. 49.6s the other day in the 400m at the Palaro. What is he like 16???, i was running 52.0s when i was that age. Im pritty sure that Del sr. is very proud. How fast was he at 16??? was he even running????

I ended up with 49.5 in our time trials a week or so ago during winter for 400m.

Still im looking very forward to racing against young Romnick Herida of FEU over my pet event the 200m.

I heard Klarrizze Posadas recently ran 100m, 12.79, 200m 25.9 and 400m, 1:00:9. Were these all electronic? I am thrilled to here more of her in athletics (and not in basketball; she’s not gonna be a star in basketball I wish she realizes this). I was hoping though she can come close soon to Lydia de Vega’s junior times. I think Jojo should behave like Tatang de Vega- a stiff diciplinarian. I also think Brent is not a good school for Klarrizze. Her track superstardom is just around the corner only if she will train really really really hard.

Henry Dagmil threw in everything including the kitchen sink in his last outing in Los Angeles. He jumped 7.99m just 6cm shy of the Olympic qualifier of 8.05m. But improved his personal best of 7.87m (SEA Games record in Thailand 2005) by 12cm!!!. Dagmil jump of 7.99m means he climbs up from the bottom of the IAAF World Rankings in his event, the only athlete in Philippine Team to feature among the worlds elite.

He may have some more meets if he decides to compete in the Asian Grand Prix, it is now all upto PATAFA and the PSC to give him the thumbs up to extend his qualifying time for the olympic berth.

Yehey!!!!!! Mr Henry Dagmil did a 7.99meters just last June 7, 2008. Really, really close to 8.05 olympic B standard. Just about 2 1/2 inches more and his a legal Olympian! Mr Dagmil, reading that result really made my day! This is also a new Philippine record for long jump! I wish he makes it more in asian grand prix.

Marestella Torres’s run of 12.44 sec in last year’s 100m dash, world championships in Tokyo stands out in the internet like a big black eye in her athletics career. Her series of bad performances in US inspite of sending her there supposedly to prepare her for qualifying in Olympics are giving me a bad impression that she will perform the same as in long jump as in her mediocre run in 100m dash last year in a World Arena. I think we should send instead a woman long distance runner like Mercedita Manipol or a lady maratthoner who can do a sub 3 hours or maybe send instead deborah samson.

Henry Dagmil’s jump of 7.99m has a legal wind of 0.2 which is good to be acknowledged as a Philippine long jump record. I know anything above the legal limit of 2.0 is considered wind-aided. I hope he can jump farther still like 8.20 which he thinks he can do at most and does this in Olympics!!! Hurray for Henry Dagmil !!!!!!

If the current IAAF rankings will be the basis for our Philippine TOKEN (this is embarrassing for PATAFA to be fighting for the free rides to this big games) representatives to Beijing Olympics, the only filipino athletes in the 2008 performance rankings are Henry Dagmil’s long jump mark of 7.99 meters and Deborah Samson’s 4.12 in pole vault. As of today none of the other ahtletes including Marestella Torres, Julius Nierras and the middle distance runner are in the list. Dagmil is also 4th best so far in asia and Deborah, 10th best (the other 8 are all chinese and 1 japanese). Closest pursuer to Deborah is Marestella Torres, she’s done a low 6.30m this year and bucking injuries she may be ready for the 2008 by August. I don’t understand why she been on a downhill since 2007 except for the SEA GAMES gold. Since the retirement of Lerma Gabito, it seems she’s performed below her potential…maybe what she needs is another good filipina competitor in the long jump.

Best Junior performers this year.

#1 Renato Unso Jr.
100m Hurdles Junior Record 15.25 and again in Jakarta with 15.12
#2 Isidro Del Prado Jr.
400m 49.5 at nationals only 16 or 17.
#3 Lindley Franz Navaja
could be the find of the season in short sprints ran 11.14 to dead heat with Mostoles at national open. But alot of potentiol for improvement as not good running form.
#4 Romulo Mostoles
very handy over 100-200-400. Good find for FEU.
#5 Maika De Oro
Discus Throw. another 2nd generation athlete like Unso & Del Prado Jr.

Best Senior Performances this year.

#1 Henry Dagmil 7.99m making a name for himself on the world stage.
#2 Emerson Obiena 4.93m at the age of 44!!!.
#3 Deborah Sampson consistent 4.10-4.11m jumps. surely deserves olympic selection.
#4 Eliezer Sunang one of the finds of the seasons after smashing the longstanding shotput record.
#5 Sheena Atillano gutsy effort in the US with 13.70 in Hurdles.

Renato Unso Jr & Isidro del Prado Jr are good news to Phil athletics but they need to really work harder bec compared to the other asian juniors, their times are not really impressive. By the time these boys are 18yo maybe they should be sent to US for training to prepare them for 2012 or 2016 Olympics. Hopefully Go teng Kok will be resigned in PATAFA by then. He thinks he is helping athletics but not really and this makes the situation worse.

If reports are true that Go Teng Kok is resigning as PATAFA head, I think that is the best direction that will happen to Phil Athletics. I won’t mind Terry Capistrano or Mike Keon heading the association, they love and know this sports. What PATAFA needs is a guy who really has the passion for athletics. Not someone who will use the association as his takeoff point for other non-athletics activities. Keon and Terry have these passion for this sport…it’s like even when one is tired one has the time for this sport bec it thrills this person and relaxes him. He doesn’t find the running the association tiring but it refreshes this person esp if his wards are making names and records. Its been long since phil athletics has been in a slump…and it all began with the presidency of Mr Go. No exaggerations.

ei andrew,

you sound like a publicist for Henry Dagmil, Sheena Atilano etc. EVERYBODY in the athletics team shows determination and dedication, even if it is a long shot to get into the olympic games, with the way our government is running our sports programs. And btw, Julius Nierras bagged the gold medal in the ASIAN Grand Prix. time may not be as good as what he was able to do last sea games, but only commensurate for someone who is not able to train in the US and tied to the Philippine Airforce.

“Maganda ang ipinakita ni Nierras sa Asian Grand Prix. It’s going to be a tough decision on who will be the country’s representative in the men’s division,” said Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Go Teng Kok.

After Nierras runs 47.36 at AGP.

I dont think this is a tough decision at all, Nierras has ran 47.35 this year and the standard is 45.8. Whereas Dagmil has jumped 7.99m and the standard is 8.05m. I think its a given that PATAFA should send Dagmil. As he is the south east asian record holder, whereas Nierras is just the sea gold medalist in comparisson.

In the womens its a tougher call but Deborah Sampson should be the selection she has jumped 4.11m consistently and the standard is 4.25m.

Bong they chose Dagmil and Marestella. I dont see why Deborah wasnt selected. I hope PATAFA bothered to approach here as she just seems to be getting better and better. Marestella jumped 6.38m in Vietnam which is probably the best we’ve seen from her in two years but still far from her form of a couple years back when she jumped 6.63m and got second at asian champs behind Anju George of India.

I think Deborah Sampson is very under rated by Philippine Track and Field has been very consistent this season jumping 4.10m or more every time she has competed. If no olympics for her, she should be considered a vital part of the team and be offered the chance to compete at asian level meets.

Bong,
there isnt anyone else any good in the womens long jump. The Philippines was lucky to have its share with Muros, Buluitan-Gabito and then Torres. Its probably going to be a while before they get another one.

I relish the thought of Klarrizze Posadas running soon in 100m, 200m and 400m. I wish she can beat the young sprinter in Thailand, only 17yo but runs 11.7 to 11.8 electronic. Klarrizze’s best clearly shows she’s not seriously in athletics yet with her 12.7 secs in 100m and 25.9 in 200m. She better wake up soon. Basketball is not for her and the future for her greatness lies in athletics.

Indeed, Henry Dagmil and Marestella Torres will be hardpressed to win a medal in Olympic Athletics but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be rewarded if they barge into the final top 8. Henry Dagmil should wear something striking like something resembling the Philippine flag like the japanese sprinter did (who lost to Jesse Owens but still fought hard); but more importantly, he should do his best to jump beyond 8 meters here or at least be in the top 3 best asian performers….(but i prefer above 8 meters!!!). I have doubts on Marestella Torres’ abilities in performing at this level. She will just probably jump 3x and go home. She may have jumped 6.38 in Hanoi asian grand prix leg…but that has a strong wind aiding her which is 5 meters per second (the allowed is only 2 meters). Anyway if any from these 2 lands in top 8, someone should start thinking of giving them cash rewards. The best that I know after the world war 2 was Hector Begeo’s 8:36 minutes semifinals finish in steeplechase 84 olympics (i think it was here). Not even Lydia or del Prado could match Begeo’s feat.

Bong you’ll be happy to know the Philippines didnt send anyone to World Juniors as tokens. Some of the athletes sent to represent us at the asian juniors had very poor performances.

I wish PATAFA has a website similar to singaporeathletics.com. Not as a platform for politicians achievements and plans for athletics but the achievements of Filipino trackters and their aspirations. I admire the article re Balpreet breaking 100m junior mark and the comments of that writer…the content is similar to my comments on Maristella Torres during 2005 SEA Games apologizing to Lerma Balauitan when she took the gold in the long jump at the expense of Lerma. So maybe a website by 2009?

Realistic forecasts for Dagmil and Marestella: If Henry Dagmil recovers fast and be in top shape, he might actually jump past 8meter in Beijing Olympics but he must do this in his first 3 jumps otherwise it’s a quick bye..he might also perform around 7.7 yo 7.8 in his first 3 jumps. For Marestella Torres, she is likely to do around 6.20 to 6.30ish…and a possible sub 6m! Why? her 6.30’s in VietnamGrand prix was heavily wind-aided, 5m/sec!!!! And her Jump in the recent open in Vietnam, a 6.11 meters was full of excuses not being able to warm up…besides she really seems to be in a decline. Her statement that she is hoping to break her 6.63m is giving us false hopes. She is not in shape to do this at the moment.

Worst performance abroad so far: Sheena Atilano’s 13.29 secs in 100meters (slippery track I guess). If they intend to send athletes to US again Terry should consider younger athletes who will honor him with his/her every performance for many many years. An 18 yo perhaps.

13.29 secs, this is in 100 meter dash and not in the hurdles.

Indeed 200m is much longer Mr Pirie for Atilano to consider this her second event; but this is a way to measure up herself against other competitors in a little more energy draining event. She can train in 150 or 120m but how will she gauge her improvement? But to train in a slightly diff event forces her other muscles to work harder or her lungs to be pushed further, areas not maximized while doing the training in 100m hurdles. 200m is only a way to make her work extra harder; if she does this in 100m then that’s fine…I heard France’s former 400m runner was videotaped vomitting during her overtraining in 400m (Perec) for Olympics. I may sound mean…but this is what I meant.

The earliest account of Isidro del Prado’s (senior) exploits in 400m was in 1981 SEA Games in Manila running 46.7+ electronic. He was 21 then. His son Isidro del Prado, Jr. running 49.5 secs at 16 yo is really good actually compared to his father’s and considering he just entered in athletics 2 or 3 years back. But he should also consider the technological advances in athletics, 1981 to 2008 is a big leap. Young boys in other parts of asia almost his age (16 to 18yo) are running 46 to 47 secs in 400m flat, the truth is he didn’t even land in the top 8 in the asian juniors (was he 16th or 17th?) recently. I know he is good Mr Pirie, but he needs to realize his potential to run a low 47 secs in next years SEA Games is very possible. He needs to undergo a really effective and punishing training now til he reaches 18 yo and aim to run around 46 secs, then hope for a track scholarship abroad possibly in the US. Isidro Jr seems to be surrounded by a lot of distractions and the senior del Prado doesn’t seem to be pushing him harder. If he is really brave enough, he should really start taking the crown by next year from Julius Nierras or Ernie Candelario as the country’s fastest quarter miler.

Cebu Fan and Mr Pirie: I wish you can invite more people to write something about Philippine athletics in this blog. If you love this sport, I guess this is a way to help it. Discussing this might make people here realize that boxing and basketball are not the only sports here. hahaha

There’s a wealth of young female long jumpers here doing past 5.2 to 5.6 meters at national games. Merily Teodocio and Luville Dato-on to name some are this generations overlooked youngers who are jumping well. They just need to be taken under a national body (maybe a junior wing for PATAFA in Baguio) away from the shadows of present long jumpers in PATAFA for them to gain confidence. Muros (6.55), De Vega (6.28), Gabito (6.55) and Torres (6.63) were all jumping at the range of these present young girls or slightly better. These two girls needs to have a really good coach training them NOW otherwise they will just fade and we’ll never hear again from them after their scholarships in college.

No comment about GTK, the performance of the RP Athletes speaks for this, i dont like to think about the political side of things. For me its all about the athletes.

Cebu Fan - I was on the Mapua Track Team with Henry Dagmil, so their is a connection their. There is a big difference between winning a small competition like the Asian Grand Prix and qualifying for the Olympics.

Simply because Dagmil and Sheena train full time and Nierras has the airforce can hardly be used as an excuse. As There are plenty of sprinters here in Australia who work full time jobs and still make olympic standards. Some would even say that working adds variety to ones life and gives you better discipline for training.

Bong - I have not seen Klarizze perform in any major events. And if she really wants to be in the team she will win something at the national open soon.

Bong dont u mean 14.29, i think in that race she actually crashed through a hurdle in this race. Ic yeah there was about a 5 meter head wind in that race.
13.29 100m.

No point in running a 200m, there is no curve in a 100m Hurdles. If she runs 120m on the straight that could be good.

he ran 50 seconds at asian juniors, Nierras is the man to beat at 400m.

Sorry Bong i’ve never heard of either Teodocio or Data-on. I know Torres and Muros jumped over 6 meters as juniors.

I think I agree with you Mr Pirie that the curve in 200 won’t help Sheena. She has been performing poorly in 100m dash recently which is already her extra event. Sheena doesn’t seem to be a good sprinter and that reflects in her 100m hurdles clockings. What PATAFA needs to do is take a lot of young sprinters (young girls 12 to 16yo) with potentials and train them for 2 years in 100 to 4oo meters, then afterwhich they should be convinced to diversify in related events like 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles, 800m, longjump, triple jump, heptathlon. in the late 80’s to 90’s, the phils had a lot of sprinters: Lydia de Vega (11.28), Elma Muros (11.67), Rhoda (11.9) Sinoro and Ganosa (11.9), and Edna Punelas (12.1). At one point in a local meet here in Rizal Stadium, 3 women went sub 12 in topping their own heats. Now, year 2008 only one seems to be a good spinter and struggling to do a sub 12 secs.

Isidro de Prado never went to US and yet he managed to do in 1984 or 85 46.24 saec, 46.19 (?) and then to 45.57 and he he was also under AFP (armed forces)

Also your statement re Asian grand prix being a small meet reaffirms my impression that asian grand prix has lost its prestige compared to the AAA meets in the 80’s and 90’s. I know it is supposed to help asian athletes compete more and improve their times since euro grand prix trips are expensive but that’s it…it has become another small athletic competition for asian trackters.

Elma was actually jumping 5.6 to 5.8m as a 14 yo and jumped 6.06 as a 16yo. Lydia was running a handclocked 11.7 secs in 100m as a 14 yo and 24.5 in 200m and 55 secs in 400m as a 15 yo and a fantastic (!!!!) 23.54 secs days before age turned 17 yo. Perla Balatucan ran a 12.45 electronic as a 14 yo but never improved (way back in 1981).

This Australian Anthony Benson, the other magic of Gintong Alay head Michaek Keon did wonders to Philippine athletics in the 80’s. I heard he’s the top hoocho now in some athletic group in Australia.

I think we also need to have a bigger budget for PATAFA and money making schemes…and maybe corporate sponsors have to start thinking of creating interesting money events for these amateur athletes (amateurs need sustenance too and this entails money) …maybe a 100 to 400 meter compettions for juniors 8 to 10, 11 to 12, 13 to 15 and 16 to 18 with cash prizes and not just by saying ‘we will give Php1 million pesos to whoever wins a gold in Olympics’ which I find totally useless and seemingly insincere to help sports. For years companies, politicians and taipans have been promising to give huge incentives…I think deep inside they are also crossing their fingers that it wont happen hahaha.

Bong i will ask my coach if he knows Anthony Benson, i think he might be long gone though or maybe deceased by now.

The Philippines has a long way to go before winning a gold medal, and to be honest P1 Million is spare change for most olympians. Giving that Olympics is atleast 4 years of serious hard funded training which would probably cost alot more than the 1 Million pay off. Giving the fact that the Philippines has never won a gold 1 Million is quite stingy.

Regarding your idea for a competition. In Australia we have a pro-athletic system of handicaped races. They have this in other countries aswell such as Scotland. These events are run on grass tracks and sponsored by local businesses. Judging on the athletes ability you start off a mark, the idea is everyone is placed so they have an equal chance of crossing the line at the same time. This is a fiercly competitive race and i find it even more intense than an actual race because the finishes are so close and less predictable.
I dont know if you have heard of the Stallwell gift but this is a meet ran anually on grass in the small town of Stallwell with the winner of the prestigious gift 120m being awarded $40,000 Australian Dollars.

Found a guy named Tony Benson who usto work for Athletics Australia up until 1994. He is now coaching Triathlon but alive and well. I sent him an email asking if he was friends with Michael Keon.

Sheena maybe having a poor showing as of recently in the 100m. But she is still faster than specialist sprinters such as Sharon Jizmundo who were able to beat her a few years back. Sheena improved her 100 PB to 11.96 under Coach Cablayan, whereas Jizmundo is yet to run under 12 seconds with electronic timing.

Mr. Benson sent me a reply and is indeed the person you refer to Bong. Bong what you have described to me for the age grade comp sounds like the olympic festival in place with cash incentives.

why not introduce something new and innovative as part of a track meet to draw in large companies support.

Instead of just the boring old track meet by itself in addition as part of the programme have a mascot race, handicapped race, invitational relay of company employees to take on the PATAFA staff, something entertaining.

The reason why the Weekly Relays is such a good meet is because it involves all age grades etc. and has a variety of interesting relay events you wouldnt get at a standard meet. As soon as you make athletics in the Philippines available to everyone especially the youngsters then you get the participation numbers up. I thought it was a good idea having the elementary, secondary and senior athletes on the same day for the weekly relay, because the younger kids get inspired seeing some of the senior athletes run and it makes them more likely to stay in the sport. PATAFA should not have done away with this system. The only gripe i had was when street kids were swarming all over the track when i was trying to practice with the relay teams at Rizal Colisseum. Anyway my 2 cents is that Athletics should be for everyone and not just the elite of which is far and few behind in the Philippines anyway.

In retrospect the Philippine Olympic Festival is a good idea. But they should have more competitions available for senior athletes, you see so many athletes drop off after finishing University wherein lies the problem. An athlete usually peaks at around 25-30 but may finish college at 21. As a senior athlete all you get is the Weekly Relays, National Open and AFP (if your in the army).

The trend is once athletes finish college they tend to go overseas to find a job to stay in Manila to work. We get alot of national athletes here who actually work and train and some are even Olympians. Its all about time management here.

GOOD LUCK TO MARESTELLA TORRES AND HENRY DAGMIL!!!!!! GIVE YOUR BEST PINOYS!!!

7.58m for Dagmil, 2 no jumps and 6.17m for Torres. Hard Luck, hopefully can do well at asian games level.

What a horrible year for Philippine athletics and RP sports!!!

If plans to get eastern european track and field coaches for athletics will push through they better do it quick or NOW!!!

So much for winning a gold medal, this completely jinxed the rp team and they couldn’t even get a medal of any color.

Does this mean that the cars which would have been awarded to the athletes for winning medals will end up in the PSC parking lot with officials. East European coaches???? can the PSC afford them??? I mean a lot of Filipino coaches are now going overseas cause they are better paid in other countries.

Why not come and pinch some Australian coaches like England is doing for the Olympics.

Me and my coach have decided i am going to focus on the 200m rather than the 400m this year. see y’all at national open in May.

Sheena’s done 11.92 sec in 100m and 13.65 in 100mh early this march. Great job for Sheena!

Bong,

Where did you find this information. I just chatted with Sheena on yahoo messenger and she doesnt seem to know anything about that. (She told me that was back in 2007).

oops sorry, those times were merely seedings.

Sana si Zara dela Virgo na lang ang pinadala ng TMS o ng PATAFA sa US. Walang nangyayari kay Sheena!!!!

PATAFA is reportedly aiming for 7-10 golds in the SEA games come December. Looks to be realistic especially the lower end of the range. Hope the RP trackters perform well and even go beyond the target.

Whatever happened to the plan to get 2 Eastern European coaches? Was that merely a press release of PATAFA?

Sprinting here is becoming soooo boring, no stars, none even at asean level. (men though are much better than male sprinters of the 80’s and 90’s. Hay naku…

And Harry Angping is even planning to convert Rizal track oval to a football field. Poor University belt tracksters. hahaha

Jamie Dawn Henares, if she wants to become a big time sprinter should come to manila and train here…this will be a good start. Her present coach doesn’t seem to be making her run faster.

see you all at national open. Im going to Thailand to run the 100/200 for the philippines.

see you all at national open. Im going to Bangkok to take on the Thais over the 100/200 for the Philippines. Im leaving Sydney on Thursday. Competing Sunday to Wednesday.

Australia has been over looked for fil-athletes in the past. We have some athletes who are just as good as the Filams. I have a half filo training partner who has ran 10.96 this season for the 100 and 22.19 for the 200. The standard of mens sprinting has actually dropped after the injury of Soguilon in 2007. As of 2008 the Philippines only had one athlete Romnick Herida who broke 11 seconds for the 100m. Australia has two filo’s who run under 11 seconds, The USA had none. Infact the only athlete who is still active amongst the filams is Deborah Sampson.

In addition to this we also have a 19 yr old full filipino from Paranque originally but moved to aus at a young age, who has ran 14.79 for the 110m Hurdles a few years back he is well under the Junior Record of 15.05 by Renato Unso Jr. and fractions off Alonzo Jardin’s 14.75. He sees this as a soft record which he plans to break this year. He also runs 11.10 for the 100 which isnt really that good, but he plans to concentrate on the decathlon, i believe he can be a medalist at sea games in the decathlon possibly the heir to Arnold Villiarube (who is now 29). He has 4.50 PV, 1.80 HJ, 10-11M SP, 45M JAVELIN, 35M DISCUS, 400 (probably can go atleast 51-52 has ran 22.9 in the 200), 1500 everyone is usually tired by this event anyway. Anyway he is targetting the 2011 sea games, he will be 21 and Villiarube will be 31 by then. Both these young men will compete at the Australian University Games in September so its still within the sea games qualification criteria. We all train together with a large group of sprinters, what i like most about these two young men is that they both share my passion for the sport and have and will be active in the sport for many years. I want to give them the opportunities to represent the Philippines and help them with what i have learnt to achieve these goals.

Ive been competing now for 12 years, I know im no spring chicken, i’m not young anymore and at 25 its very likely i will be the oldest man to line up in the final at Pangasinan. I will use my experience to be the best i can be on the day and try and win. I appreciate that its not an easy task, but will pour my heart and soul into the finals.

I have a very good opponent in the young Herida 100m of FEU and Julius Nierras the SEA Games 400 champ in the 200m.

I had a long think and reflection on my contribution to Philippine Athletics, and wandered how i could help out the sport. Sometimes the memories are not always good, i think the best legacy i can leave is to help from my own experiences and what ive learnt from my mistakes to help the younger athletes achieve their goals.

Younger guys such as Isidro Del Prado Jr. and Lindley Franz Navaja who are very close to qualifying for the world youths in the 100 Navaja (11.14 last nat open needs 10.94) and Del Prado 49.51 (needs 48.7).

400M ALL TIME LIST FOR JUNIOR GIRLS

400m Name DOB Venue Date Set

54.75 Lydia De Vega 64 Manila 12/13/1981
57.24 Jonah Genilza 81 Bangkok 2/12/1999
58.4 Marife Swanque Pampanga 1990
58.4 Honey Joy Ortaliz 11/10/1984 Bicol 2002
58.5 Ma. Dela Paz Banebane 1/25/1989 Koronadal 2007
58.5 Ma. Andria Mendoza 85 Bicol 2002
58.65 Sharon Jizmundo 86 Manila 16/4/2005
59.55 Keizel Pedrina Manila 2008
59.5 Vienna Mae Banebane Puerto Princessa 2008
59.5 Sorufia Tapsing Gen. Santos

Should Klang Posadas, Jaime Henares or anyone else be on this???

13.7 secs in 100 mh for Sheena. I hope she does much, much better next month.

I am looking forward to next months national open…the performances of Isidro del Prado Jr., Luville Dato-on, and Jose Renato Unso are something to anticipate. I think these are the kids TMS should have sent abroad for training. The payback will be much longer than sending Sheena abroad.

So many really good talents coming up… have these kids been pooled for intensive training? Lindley Fran Navaja, Isidro del Prado, Jr are really good talents. So is Maureen Schrijvers and Luville Dato-on.

Not much for Shrijvers this palaro so she’s out. Elma Muros and Jojo posadas daughter isn’t also showing real potential as a trackster running 12.75 sec in 100m last May, a 27.1 secs in 200m and 1.01 min in 400m. The sports future rests on Isidro del prado, jr and this Lindley fran Navaja.

Finally, again a 13.65 secs for sheena in 100mh. Is she really married?

I think Lindley just did a 10.78 secs in PRISAA’s 100m dash; I just don’t know if it is electronic. But I saw a video of him running in previous palaro (2008) and he seems to be the future of Philippine sprinting at age 16yo with his nice long strides. The thing about athletic talents in the Philippines is that they appear this year and gone next year. Government intervention in training is really necessary for these young athletes to become int’l stars. Del prado, jr is lucky to have a father to direct and support him and so his Unso, jr. Young filipina girls mostly continue in athletics for university scholarships when they are in college; but the school is a factor too in developing their potential. Jonah Genilza chose DLSU years back and she merely reached UAAP status. I feel Dato-on will follow suit since it is really hard to balance athletics and studies. Proof is she hasn’t really improved much and just got stuck in the 5.3 to 5.5 m range in the long jump and slumped in 12.6secs in 100m. Shrijvers and Henares came from upper medium class families and most likely their families will oppose athletics, such I think is the case for Chantal Balani. Personally, I don’t think Klarrizze will take up track and field seriously (towards in’t stardom) but just grab a college scholarship and just win in inter university championships after Brent or may even shift to basketball. Personally I dont think Elma and Jojo want their daughter to take Athletics seriously as her mother did. I think this is the case also for Lydia’s daughter Paning. It was not all glory for Lydia back then during her sprinting days; carrying the burden of losing wasn’t easy especially if you alone will be resposible for it. Making Paning compete in a team event is less strenous and more time also for studies (and a better future for her kid than what is happening to her now), and definitely more fun than training in 100m alone. She knew the hardship of also always being in the limelight.

Bong very good insight. I was happy to be a part of the national open and be one of two filipinos to make the 100 final. I have made the final everytime. Unfortunatley things didnt go well for me and i was hospitalised after day 1 due to dehydration. I was forced to make some difficult choices such as pulling out of the 200, as i felt drained after the heats. I lined up in the 100 final hardly able to breathe and finished last. Came back later and ran the 4×100 and helped team to silver.

Thats some very good insight Bong. 10.78 was hand timed by Navaja. He ran a personal best 11.05et in the SF but was pipped in the final by Carlo Soriano of ADMU (pb 11.00et at UAAP) 11.12 to 11.13, with Mostoles of FEU 3rd in 11.16. It was an exciting race to watch i think i was hunched over coughing out phlegm when i watched it.

Last year Lindley and Mostoles both ran 11.14 for a tie, and Soriano was 7th. What a shock and upset it was for Navaja as the big athlete from Ateneo dipped him on the line. In consolation Lindley has one possibly two more years left in the junior division.

Del Prado Jr. ran in the senior division, i think he clocked 50 seconds in the first two rounds.

Data-on i dont know her, is she the taller dark athlete from FEU???

is she really married. No. In Filipino married sometimes means in a serious relationship.

The best performance at the national open was Franz Navaja 21.95. Followed by the walkers, Julius Nierras 200/400 double and then Galledo 49.49 in the Junior 400.