Last Updated on March 16, 2023 by Andrew Pirie
2013 Philippine National Games Athletics Report Track Events
100M
Daniel Noval (green) Phi Jr record holder wins his heat over Peter Padal (yellow) and Pirie Enzo (red). (Photo Credit: Joey Ming Lao)[/caption]
Phi JR Record Holder Daniel Noval and Edwards of Malaysia had the fastest times in the heats tied at 11.03. Winning heat 2 and heat 3 respectively. In the Junior Mens Noval’s training partner, Anfernee Lopena of CSB ran 10.97. In the semis, Joseph Cabato of Zamboanga was faster than Lopena with 11.08.
It was Edwards of Malaysia who won the 2011 National Games and got the better of Noval in the final timing 10.90 to 10.93. Noval looked over his shoulder towards the line which may have allowed Edwards to creep ahead. Noli Torres of Run for Change the PRISAA Champion was a surprise third in 11.14.
Lopena (Run for Change) matched the time of Edwards to win the Junior Mens in 10.90.
The Women’s 100m Final was won by Hanelyn Loquinto of Meralco in 12.57, the field was very poor with 5 entries with silver well behind in 13.53. Jenny Rose Rosales of UE won the Junior Women’s 100m in a faster time of 12.41 ahead of Sandy Stephen of Malaysia at 12.73 and Palaro Champion Eloisa Luzon of UST at 12.88.
200M
UAAP Silver medalist Jose Unso of DLSU took the season lead in the men’s 200m with a time of 21.96 in the heats, ahead of Isidro del Prado Jr. of FEU the 2011 Champion (son of the legend) in 22.02, 2007 SEA Games 400m Champion Julius Nierras of Airforce was third fastest in the heats in 22.36.
In the men’s final it was Del Prado who took advantage of the slight headwind (-0.8) to claim his second national title at 22.01 ahead of Unso at 22.27. Nierras withdrew before the race.
Upcoming Anfernee Lopena of Run for Change was the fastest in the junior men’s heats at 22.19. Ahead of Palaro Champion Christopher Lirasan 22.46. Palaro Silver medalist Jomar Udtohan was fastest in the boy’s division in 22.64.
Lopena comfortably won the final over Lirasan from 22.07 to 22.54.
In the Junior Women’s UAAP Record Holder, Jenny Rose Rosales of UE coached by Elma Muros and Jojo Posadas had the fastest time in 25.71. Rosales came back to win the final in 25.31 (.58 away from her best time) lacking a quality opponent as the second was 26.86.
400M
Alejan, Bagsit, and Nierras battle it out for the 400m title. (photo credit: Julius Nierras)
2007 SEA Games Champion Julius Nierras of the Airforce was the most convincing winning heat 2 clocking 47.84, the best time he has run for 4 years. The 35-year-old time was under the SEA Games qualifier of 47.97. Alejan won heat 2 in 48.12 breaking his personal best of 48.41 and SEA Games silver medalist Bagsit ran 48.86 winning the first heat. In the Junior Division Ryan Bigayan who is coached by the 2001 and 2003 SEA Games, 400m Champion Ernie Candelario was the fastest in 49.12, ahead of defending champion and PRISAA Champion Joan Caido of Baguio.
In the Junior, Final Bigyan led all the way and never really looked like he was going to concede the lead. He stopped the clock in 48.82 had he dipped he would have surpassed the junior record of Ralph Soguilon which stands at 48.81. He should have another shot at this later in the season.
His teammate Raymark Alferos of Mapua finished second in 49.12 and Palaro Champion Christopher Lirasan finished third in 49.66. Last year’s champion and PRISAA Champion Joan Caido of Baguio finished out of the medals with a time of 50.32, which was faster than his winning time last year but far from his PB of 48.8 which he ran during the PRISAA.
In a thrilling 400m final Nierras starting lane 3 quickly took the stagger from Bagsit 150m into the race. Stumbling over the uneven track at 200 round the second curve and 280 Nierras was still a good 5 or so meters clear. But with 40m to go his calves started to get heavy and he was hanging on with the fast-approaching youngsters Bagsit and Alejan catching him.
A thrilling finish as Bagsit pipped Nierras 47.89 to 47.90 with Alejan a very close third in 48.01 also breaking the personal best he set in the heats. UAAP Champion Jesson Ramil Cid Run For Change was fourth in 48.63, and last year’s silver medalist Run for Change athlete Isidro Del Prado, who played under FEU, was fifth in 49.66.
There were more entries in the women’s and girls’ 400m this year. (only 2 women ran the 400m in Dumaguete) however, the quality of fields was very weak. With only Jennyrose Rosales (juniors) and Josie Malacad (seniors) breaking 1 minute. Rosales who stopped the clock at 57.09, was outside her personal best of 56.03 established at the UAAP.
800M
SEA Games silver medalist and defending National Champion Mervin Guarte of Laguna was the fastest qualifier from the heats with 1:52.67, he beat Paul Billones last year’s bronze medalist and former UAAP Champion to win the first heat. Last year’s Silver Medalist Wenlie Maulas won the second heat.
In a thrilling final the athletes still overcame the slow track surface to produce a spectacular final SEA Games Silver medalist Guarte of Laguna coached by Ojon Artiaga stopped the clock at 1:50.88. Which was good enough to get the SEA Games bronze of 1:51.28. Guarte led through the first lap in 53 seconds and crossed 1 min 20. Paul Billones of Meralco coached by John Lozada smashed his best time from 1:53.84 to 1:51.74 which will put him into contention for qualifying for SEA Games. Wenlie Maulas of UP claimed the silver improving his best from 1:52.90 to 1:52.52.
Elbren Neri of UST won the Boys 800m in 1:56.26 narrowly holding off Jomar Angus of FEU at 1:56.74
In the Women’s Sarah Vitug made the most of an unchallenged field to win the event by 11
seconds in 2:13.94. Vitug whose best time is 2:11, was still outside the SEA Games bronze mark of 2:08. Jessa Mangsat of Baguio who broke the 3ks record was second, and Mary Ann Dela Cruz of FEU was third.
1500M
Sarah Vitug of Run for Change won the women’s in 4:35.01, paced by teammate Mary Joy Tabal who was running her first ever 1500m and clocked in second in 4:46.91 with UAAP Champion Mary Ann Dela Cruz of Airforce clocking in third in 4:54.50. Vitug led from start to finish and drew away from Tabal who given the task of setting the pace early with 600m to go. Vitug whose best time is 4:27 (second fastest ever), needed to surpass the 4:24 national record and the sea games standard of 4:21.
But due to the lack of quality competition was unable to do so. The 22-year-old from Los Angeles who has Filipino parents will now need to find another meet to chase the standard.
Guarte added the 1500m men’s title with a time of 3:56.72 ahead of 3ks champion and training partner Christopher Ulboc 3:57.87.13-year-old Leiza Fenton of LSA Smart Altas of the Leyte Sports Academy also had a good time in the Junior Girls winning in 4:58.52.
5000M
In an epic toe to toe battle. Rafael Poliquit of the Philippine Airforce Claimed his first national title in 15:21.23 from the fast-finishing Roldan Verano of JRU 15:22.26, Cesar Castano and Hernanie Sore of Baguio, and Anthony Nerza of Sun Cellular Davao.
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10000M
Poliquit navigated his way to another victory in the event. Clocking 32:02.49 and narrowly holding off 35-year-old National Record Holder Eduardo Buenavista 32:02.75. SEA Games Marathon Silver medalist Eric Panique of Nike was third in 32:55.39.
In the women’s Mangsat, the 3ks record holder took advantage of a weak field to win in 39:23.29
Steeples
Christopher Ulboc of Run for Change Team is on his way to his first national title in Mens 3K Steeples. (photo credit Joey Ming Lao)[/caption]
Christopher Ulboc of the Run for Change team improved his best time from 2011 PNG from 9:18.55 to 9:05.65. The 22-year-old who is coached by Ojon Artiaga was able to win the 3k steeples in the absence of Multiple SEA Games Champion Rene Herrera who had to skip the event due to a calve injury. Ulboc was just outside the SEA Games qualification of 8:57.88.
This should ensure Ulboc continues to stay in the training pool and undoubtedly he will get a few meets to try and make the standard for the SEA Games. The fact he was running in very old shoes on an old surface means he has the potential to run those times. Atty. Eric Pasion of Run For Change has secured a commitment from their partner Nike to provide Ulboc with pairs of spikes and shoes to further his training. Veteran Hernani Sore of Baguio who ran at the last SEA Games was second in 9:23.21 while the upcoming Roldan Verano of JRU who has moved up from the middle distances was third in 9:29.87.
In the Women’s 3KS Jessa Mangsat of Baguio set the first national record of the meet recording 11:25.70 (recorded incorrectly in the previous article) which broke the record of Jean Palencia. The 21-year-old Mangsat who is the Junior Record Holder in the 10k and 3ks and is coached by Rene Herrera decided to focus on the 3k steeples and it has paid off well.
Mangsat is also a strong candidate for the training pool, however, the SEA Games standard is 10:48.97 however Jessa did take 20 seconds off her best time, and with good training and some meets abroad she could fulfill her dream and make her first SEA Games team. Jennismyl Mabunga of FEU was second in 11:43.15 and defending champion Floredeliza Donos of Baguio had to settle for bronze in 11:56.70 despite running faster than she did last year to win.
110 Hurdles
One of six Fil-Heritage athletes at the PNG Eric Cray boosted the quality of the Mens 110m Hurdles event. Cray surpassed the 400 Hurdle Record of Renato Unso with 50.74.
Going into this event the record was 14.49 set by Patrick Unso (son of Renato) at the ASEAN Uni Games.
Cray who has not run this event for four years, clocked 14.22 in the heat equalling his Personal best with Patrick Unso in the same heat also eclipsing his record in 14.45. In the final Cray who warmed up with Unso again eclipsed the record again with 14.17, with Unso running right to the line with a 14.21 personal best again. Cray was very impressed with the young Unso saying
“The Boys are good he can run under 14 seconds easily.”
The level of competition from Cray helped Unso improve his time with the pair just within range of the bronze medal standard for the SEA Games of 14.14. On a faster track, they could have broken 14 seconds.
(Improvement of the Philippines 110 Hurdle Record)
14.75 Alonzo Jardin 1997
14.58 Patrick Unso 2011 SEA Games
14.49 Patrick Unso 2012 ASEAN University Games
14.22 Eric Cray 2013 PNG (Heats)
14.17 Eric Cray 2013 PNG (Final)
Palaro Champion 16-year-old Jaime Mejia of UP clocked a PB of 14.89 in the junior final (outside the 14.58 record of Unso). With the absence of a quality field in the Women’s 100m Hurdles including race favorite and UAAP Champion Michelle Loterte of UST who was unable to be exempt from school enrollment commitments, Jee Ann Racoma of FEU took the gold.
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400 Hurdles
SEA Games 4th placer Jun Rey Bano (PB 51.70) and the national champion were not able to participate in the heats. National Record Holder Eric Cray (PB 50.46, NR 50.74) of Run for Change was by the fastest in the heats in 52.19. However, he was forced to withdraw from the Finals due to stomach cramps.
Domingo Cabradilla of JRU took advantage of the absence of the two juggernauts to win in 55.70.
Palaro Champion Mejia took the hurdles to double in Junior Mens winning in 54.45.
Josie Malacad of FEU defended her national title with a time of 1:02.44
In the junior women’s Palaro Champion, Marilyn Avila of FEU clocked 1:04.87 in the heats and 1:04.52 in the finals.
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Andrew was elected Vice President of the Association of Track and Field Statisticians in 2020 after being a member for 7 years.
He has worked as a PSC Consultant and Research Assistant from 2013-2015, Consultant, and Sprint Coach at Zamboanga Sports Academy from 2015-2017. And Currently is Consultant Coach with VMUF 2021-
Current editor and chief of Pinoyathletics.info, and has recently done consultancy work for Ayala Corp evaluating the Track and Field Program.
Coaches Sprints, Middle and Jump events he is Level 3 Athletics Australia Coaching Certification in Sprints and Hurdles.
Currently working towards a Masters Degree in Education.
He can be contacted on [email protected]
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http://www.pinoyathletics.info/coaching-2/