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 24th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
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????
January 24th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
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.
January 20th, 2008 at 10:58 am
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).
January 20th, 2008 at 10:52 am
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.
January 8th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Bunevacz was a very good javelin thrower. Him, Cawiican and Fresnido were the best 3 the Philippines have ever produced.