By June Navarro
Inquirer
ILOILO CITY–Many have tried but no one has come close to approximating the promise shown by former Asian sprint queen Lydia De Vega-Mercado at an early age.
But track officials here believe they have found a De Vega-Mercado-in-the-making after a Filipino-Canadian from Bacolod City powered to two impressive wins in the second day of the Philippine Olympic Festival Visayas Qualifying leg.
Jami Dawn Henares, 15, overwhelmed the field in the 400 meters, clocking a minute and .01 second, then snared another gold in the 200m with a time of 27.2 that caught the attention of Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association technical personnel.
The honor student at Destiny Christian Academy could have been the first triple gold medalist of the games had the charming 5-foot-6 lass ruled the 100m dash the other day.
“I didn’t start well because I wasn’t listening to the starting gun,” said Henares, who lost to Jenelyn Progio of Capiz by a hairline but avenged that defeat in the 200m.
Progio timed 13.435 against Henares’ (13.436) in the 100m.
After ruling the century dash, the 18-year-old Progio went on to bag two more golds in the 100m and 400m hurdles.
“I train her along with La Salle’s (Bacolod) track and field men’s varsity team,” said Frankie Echavarria, Henares’ personal coach.
In all, Capiz took five more golds in athletics.
Joannu Fegarido ruled the boys’ 200m dash, Sharjon Delgado dominated the boys’ 400m hurdles, Hanny Jean Delfin won the 10,000m and Joan Grace Fenitro prevailed in the girls’ shotput for Capiz.
Iloilo struck hard in taekwondo, collecting a total of 19 gold medals, and kept its head high in football, coming back from two goals down to force a 2-2 draw against Cebu.
Christian John Gersanib (finweight), Kevin Cabariban (welter), Keva Labrador (fin), Ryka Bernardo (fly), Ivanna Marie Mabunay (welter), Mario Nepomuceno (bantam), Jon Adjijil (feather), Gabriel Arnigo (fin), Carole Bullon (fin), Rieth Pangham (bantam), Lyn June Salibius (light) scored wins in the juniors division.
Providing the gold for Iloilo in the grade school division were Louvett Uy Deong, Ron Alde Dedoroy, Lester Barcenilla, Nicole Vidallon and Ayanna Benita Galotera.
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:21 am
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!
January 1st, 2008 at 2:27 pm
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.
December 31st, 2007 at 2:47 pm
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.
December 31st, 2007 at 10:35 am
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,
December 12th, 2007 at 8:02 am
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