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 31st, 2008 at 9:14 pm
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!
January 29th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
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.
January 28th, 2008 at 11:51 am
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
January 26th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
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).
January 25th, 2008 at 9:50 am
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.