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.
November 12th, 2007 at 12:40 am
I saw Stephanie Mercacado’s picture 2 days ago playing volleyball for La salle. At the time I saw Paning at the track oval w/ her mother Lydia de Vega was when she was 3 years old. I know I was not the only person then hoping she will succeed her mother at the track; but knowing how difficult track is, I think her mother will discourage her. But again 2 days ago I thought I hope she will still consider. Doing volleyball could make her legs fit. And with her athletic lineage (Tatang de Vega used to be a long distance runner and her lola a sprinter), she still might excel in 100 meter dash. Ms Stephanie Mercado, we wish you to run the 100 meters like your mother. Sana!
November 9th, 2007 at 7:15 am
Yahoo Messenger = pirieandrew@yahoo.com or MSN Messenger = pirieandrew@hotmail.com
if anyone wants any more info or lists.
November 9th, 2007 at 7:05 am
In order of responses, yes Elizar i have all the lists for Juniors and Seniors. I kept track of it myself. I added Elma Muros 12.11 to the list, which is second after Lydia thanks Bong.
Elizar there is a competition from Nov 12 to Nov 19 in Manila Philippine Olympic festival final. You might be a bit late for that im going to the Philippines next year to compete at the nationals. email me at pirieandrew@gmail.com if you want any more info. Where are you from i take it your based in the US??? Im training and based in Australia.
Whereas Bong i see you know your stuff, Im surprised at your predictions for the SEA Games. Im taking an optimistic view on this.
Sheena Atillano yeah should win gold she has had a good season and good training in the US.
Sharon Jizmundo is she even in the team
she hasnt even made the SEA Games bronze medal standard.
Josbert Timus will win the long jump i have no doubt Dagmil will qualify for the Olympics and jump over 8m but i see it happening next year as he isnt 100% atm. I know Dagmil personally and talk to him online and was also in the university track team with him.
Yeah Joebert was like 1cm off the Philippine record for ages and then Dagmil peaked and blew away the record in 2004.
Melgar was injured last sea games had something wrong with her ankles, have to go alot faster than 1 min to win gold.
I think the Thai sprinter will win the 400m he has already ran 47.4 indoors which is 46 outdoors. He will kill the opposition at sea games.
To be honest of all the individual sprinters only Albert Salcedo 10.72 in 100m and Julius Nierras 47.1 400m deserve to go no one else has earned the right.
Thailand will beat Philippines in 4×4 as they have 4 runners all running below 48 consistently. Bano, Aing and Candelario have ran mainly 48 this year and Nierrras has been consistent at 47.
With Ralph Soguilon injured it now seems pointless to have a 4×100 relay. Ralph would surely have medalled in the 200m and possibly the 100m.
My predictions for Philippine Golds
Marathon - Buenavista???
Javelin - Danilo Fresnido 71m (edging closer to the 72m record)
Hammer - Arnel Ferrera (a sure thing with wins in last couple of sea games and just getting better with age)
Womens
100m Hurdles - Atillano
Manipol in some of the longer events
LJ - Marestella Torres
I think 13 is a bit of an ask. but its ok to dream.
Joselito, i ran at those same games with Chantal Balani, that was the Philippine Nationals in 2000. I remember seeing this much bigger girl running against all these small girls. I got Bronze in the Junior Mens 100m Final at 16 (raced 18,19 year olds and a guy who was 22 and not supposed to be in final), and ran 11.0s in each of the rounds. I broke 11 seconds when i was 15 and ran 10.86. Im certain Lydia was a lot quicker than 12.5 - 12.8 when she was 14/15. Cause i usto have her coach Claro Pellosis who told me she was running 12.0 - 12.5 when she was that age. Apparently Lydia even ran below 23 hand timed a couple of times when she was a senior.
November 6th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Sayang si Chantal Balani. Alam ko ayaw ng mother nya mag track ang anak nya. Wala yata daw future. I saw Chantal ran 11.7 nung 2000 sa Rizal track oval beating Marestella Torres na nag 11.9. They were both juniors then. I hope what PATAFA does is find tall and young (14 or 15 yo) girls who can run around 12.8 to 12.5 and support them very well. I think that’s what happened to Lydia. Tatand de Vega was supporting very well her daughter’s training, maiyak-iyak na si Diay nun sa training yet she was forced to her limits by her father who at the same time was her coach when shw was 12. Someone has to support our budding sprinters, a relative or maybe the a Phil track body. Ang tagal na walang pumalit kasi kay lydia. Hindi naman siguro siya freak ano for the Phils not to have another asia’s fastest woman?
November 6th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
My wish list for our SEA Games 2007 Track and Field representatives:
1. for Sheena Atilano to run at least 13.38 secs in 100m hurdles. Kahit silver I’ll be happy with that time.
2. For Sharon Jizmundo to run 11.80 secs in 100 meter dash and 24.8 or better in 200 meter dash. Kahit walang medal okay lang basta maayos na times coming from a new comer.
3. For Henry Dagmil to jump past 8.0 meters or possibly 8.05 in long jump for men and for him to qualify in Beijing Olympics. May injury na yung Malaysian long jumper Josbert Tinus so just winning a gold is not enough bec malaki ginastos sa kanya ng PSC.
4. For Joebert Delicano to jump around 7.70 meter range sa long jump. Naiwanan na siya kasi ni Henry Dagmil. I find him disappointing kasi he showed so much potential as a young athlete yet very slow ang improvement.
5. Mary Grace Milgar- I hope she runs below 1 min sa SEA Games, 400 meter hurdles. I was very disappointed with her last performance sa SEA 2005 running over 1 minute kung kelan crucial pa siya tumakbo ng ganun.
6. I wish manalo tayo ulit sa women’s & men’s marathon courtesy of Cristabel Martes and Vertek.
7. I wish manalo ang Philippine men’s team sa 4×400 meter relay at tumakbo naman sana ng 3:06 range. 3 kasi sa kanila ang kaya mag sub 47 (Aing and Candelario) at mabilis na rin si Julius Neri, so i hope they work as a team for that time or breal the Phil record.
8. I field events I think our Javelin thrower and discus throwers can win golds but I wish they can give respectable records worthy for asian level competitions. Kulelat kasi sila pag Asian games na e sisiw lang naman yung mga kalaban nila sa SEA Gmes.
9. I wish Mr Go Teng Kok will achieve his dream of 13 gold medals or possibly more pa.
10. I wish they will be fighter this SEA Games and train harder on the way there.
Good Luck Philippine Team!