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 7:30 pm
And who was the marginalized decathlete who defeated Bunevacz, a very young and upcoming Fidel ‘Toto’ Gallenero.
January 8th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
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
January 8th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
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).
January 8th, 2008 at 11:23 am
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).
January 8th, 2008 at 11:21 am
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.