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 8th, 2008 at 5:44 am
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.
January 6th, 2008 at 1:59 am
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?
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:04 am
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.
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:54 am
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.
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:24 am
sorry Mr Pirie, I was wrong with the Javelin thrower.