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.
April 21st, 2008 at 1:11 am
I have the feeling that Sheena Atilano should try running 200 meter dash in small meets to improve her endurance in 100 meter hurdles. This means training for this event too, apart from her pet event, 100 meter hurdles. This could drop her time in 100 meter hurdles significantly. But be very careful cause Olympics is nearing and I want her to qualify and not get injured.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:03 am
I have a feeling Sheena Atilano will not make the B grade (13.1 secs) in Olympics 100m hurdles judging from her two 13.8 secs times this april in California. By now she should be showing vestiges of performances she is indeed capable of doing that…maybe a low 13.5 secs for april or the 13.4 sec she promised in 2007 SEA Games.
April 16th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
13.83s for Sheena, 7.39m for Dagmil, and 4.05m for Deborah Samson.
April 9th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Claremont
13.88 from Sheena with +0.0 wind this time, 7.32 from Dagmil. Marestella also over training in US but no performances yet.
Also dont forget Deborah Samson she has jumped 4.11m twice this year to equal her lift time best and philippine record in the womens pole vault.
April 5th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I think someone should be helping seriously Ralph Waldy Soguilon recover from his broken leg. Bakit naman nabali ulit ang pinalit na steel sa buto nya e di pa naman pala ginagamit ang legs nya for training… e di pa nga yata makalakad ng maayos nabali na? Poor filipino athlete!