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 13th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
I’m just wondering, maybe Marestella Torres should start running again the 100 meter dash. Gail Devers, one of america’s greatest sprinters (I think she’s even better than Florence, having ran in so many olympics and world championships and winning) is only 5′3″ yet can manage a sub 11 secs (10.8+) in 100 and a 12.3+ secs (12.37 yata) in 100m hurdles. Marestella is 5′2″ and does wonders in long jump. Maybe she can extend that to 100m. I think she must have thought 100 m wasn’t for her after losing to Balani in 2000. But I remember that competition, Marestella had a very good start and was leading in the first 60meters and was only overpowered by Balani after the 60m mark (Chantal,11.7 and Marestella 11.9). Marestella had that powerful start and only if she can sustain that til the finish I think her limit can go really low (11.4 at most but can be pushed to 11.2). I wish we’ll have a formidable sprinter soon, or formidable sprinters! But again, anyone dreaming to become world class has to have a very tenacious spirit to win and beat the impossible. Wish ko lang mag sub 11 secs pa siya. “impossible is nothing” sabi nga ng isang american sprinter.
November 13th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Not so good news on Philippine athletics as of Oct, 2007 (from my point of view :)):
1. Ralph Soguilon’s major injury!
2. Lack of funds for foreign exposures of athletes.
3. Marestella’s 12.44secs in World Athletics Chmpionships! And representing the 100m? Last time i heard her did this was in 2000 where she finished second behind Balani.
4. Marestella being sidelined by injury. I think She’s a wonderful long jumper though (a 5′2″ jumping 6.63 is so wow!)
5. Henry Dagmil’s injury that sidelined him the whole 2007 ( recuperating in US? That must be such a waste!
6. Honey Joy Ortaliz wasting her training at the IAAF High performance training in Malaysia. We should have sent other deserving athletes instead. I really think she’s a very unfoucused athlete. Sorry.
(the only bright note in her career was running a 24.81 in 200m last 2005. 24.81 may I say is not really a bright note, but with so many poor performances of our female sprinters lately I thought that was a good start. Then she never improving after is depressing).
November 13th, 2007 at 11:02 am
as long as its not bullshit hand timing. The IAAF doesnt care if the times are with stop watches as this is very inaccurate.
November 13th, 2007 at 10:46 am
I dont know about Stephanie Mercado. But Leslie Mercado was a good Hurdler of Filipino origin back in the US.
November 13th, 2007 at 2:03 am
Many thanks for these people for making Phil athletics fun this year, as of October,2007:
1. Sheena Atilano- for her dramatic improvement in 100 meter hurdles from 14.4 to 13.65secs. WOW!
2 Ralph Soguilon- for lowering further the 100m (10.45 na ba?) and 200m phil records (21.1 secs? I forgot the exact time). But I am happy that finally our 100m and 200m dash men’s records are faster than the 100m and 200m women’s world record. Dati kasi our men’s 10.56 is embarrassing compared to the 10.49 of Florence (US female sprinter) and our 21.44 of Del Prado is slower than Florence’s 21.37 (21.39 ba? Makalilimutin na talaga). LOL But I am saddened by his injury. Get well soon Waldy.
3. Mary Grace Milgar is back! I wish she can do better than her 55.6 secs in 400m and 59 something secs in 400m hurdles. She was described one time as an “future asian games beater” by Jojo Posadas. But til now still not happened. To be that star she must work hard (swim in between to avoid injuries) and run 55 sec in 400m hurdles and 52.5 in 400m. Whew! That’s a lot of hard work. But I am happy to see her again.
4. Klarrizze Posadas, Isidro del Prado, jr and Renato Unso,jr.- I am all smiles to hear that they are following their parents footsteps. I hope I will see them win in my lifetime.
5. Jami Dawn Henares- I am intrigued by the build-up of POF for this girl. But I think she CAN be the next Phil Track Star but that will all depend on her and her determination to succeed. But my wish is that she will not be like Merily Teodosio whom I have not almost heard in 2007 after her 6 golds in POF2006, juniors(except for a silver or bronze in last month). I think we need a very strong junior training center for PATAFA to take care of these talents.
Just this til now.