Last Updated on January 24, 2023 by Andrew Pirie
2014 Philippines National Games Preview
PNG Athletics Report: Men and Boys Sprints Review Cray and Bagsit (rev 1)
May 15, 2014
Cray Targets National Record in Century Dash
Eric Cray will be looking at resetting the 100m Dash Record at the PNG. He currently holds the 110, 400 Hurdles, 60m, 60 hurdles, and 200m indoor records.
The fire will be on the centerpiece Men’s 100m dash which will see two SEA Games champions from very different events. SEA Games 400 Hurdles Eric Cray will run the 100m dash. Cray’s best time is 10.47 (+3.4) and 10.52. He is aiming to break the Philippines 100m Record of Ralph Waldy Soguilon 10.45 set in 2007.
While this is twenty-six year old the first time participating in this event at National Games Dagmil, 33 is the 2010 and 2012 champion in this event the three times SEA Games Champion has a personal best of 10.71. Also returning to the event will be half-Filipino Eddie Edwards of Malaysia who was seventh in the SEA Games final in this event, Edwards holds the best time of 10.62 and won the PNG 2011 and 2013 editions.
Also likely to feature strongly will be Anfernee Lopena the NCAA Record Holder and last year’s junior champion (10.73), Daniel Noval the National Junior Record Holder (10.65), and PRISAA back-to-back champions Noli Torres.
Heptathlon Nars starts off well
Another veteran also showed her invincibility. 35-year-old SEA Games Silver medalist Narscisca Atienza clocked a sharp 15.16 in the 100 Hurdles. She even posted a better High Jump performance in the Heptathlon. Then she did in the individual improving from 1.70 to 1.73m. Nars hold the national High Jump record at 1.81m. Nars then ran 27.64 in the 200m Hepta to win that event as well.
Palaro Holder improves mark in Javelin
Bryan Pachecho who is heading to FEU the Palaro Record Holder improved his throw. With the 700-gram javelin to 62.91m which was an easy win in the boy’s Javelin throw. Pachecho who hails from Aurora Province broke the Palaro Records in Shot Put and Javelin during the Palaro. It would be interesting to see what he can throw with 800 grams as he is a perfect candidate for the national training pool.
SEA Games 4 times Hammer Throw Champion Arniel Ferrera, 33. Won the Gold for Philippine Airforce in the Discus with 40.39m ahead of national throws coach Nixon Mas, 41 who threw 39.67m for silver. Gary Santiago won the juniors in 38.23m.
Felyn Dolloso defended her triple jump title with a 12.02m effort, considerably off the 14.12m SEA Games bronze medal standard.
Relays Leyte beats UST in the girls
It was Coach Trece’s LSA Smart Altas girls who took the gold in the Women’s relay. The Yolanda victims Karen Janario, Rosemarie Olovordia, Creer, and Escoton timed 49.24 to beat UAAP Champions UST 49.83.
The PLDT team of former UAAP standouts Bargola, Dizon (2013 UAAP Bronze medalist 100m), Catahan, and PRISAA silver medalist Jessica Bautista took the gold in the women’s 4×100 relay in a time of 52.18s.
2014 PNG – ATHLETICS DAY 3 RESULTS
Bagsit eyes 200/400m Double
Years of hard work pay off for Archand Bagsit as he continues the legacy of Filipino SEA Games champions in the 400m.
In the 200m dash SEA Games, 400m Champion Archand Bagsit (21.67) will try and regain his 2012 title. He has been provided a strong opponent from Singapore Jamal Amirrudin (21.42 PB) who was third in the SEA Games 100m, but this time will focus on the 200m dash. Completing the lineup will be Lopena (22.05) who won the juniors of this event last year and Jose Unso (21.96) last year’s silver medalist.
Meanwhile, in the 400m Dash. The well-coveted relay spots will be up for grabs. With SEA Games Silver medalist Edgardo Alejan Jr. out with an ankle injury and looking for a speedy recovery for Asian Games. The leader in this event is Archand Bagsit (47.11) the SEA Games Champion. Bagsit will be joined by two other members of the gold-winning 4×400 relay team, Isidro Del Prado Jr. (48.02) the UAAP and Uni Games Champion, and the veteran 35-year-old Julius Nierras (47.68, PB of 46.56 2007) the 2007 SEA Games Champion.
Also, upcoming youngsters, last year’s Junior Champion Ryan Bigyan (48.4) and back-to-back PRISAA Champion Joan Caido (48.6) look to make an impact in their first year in the senior division.
A Rematch in the Junior Sprints
The Boy’s 100m dash will likely see a rematch between the top 3 finishers at the 2013 Palaro in Dumaguete. It was Lirasan, Nor, and Udtohan in that order in a controversial photo finish. In Dumaguete, it was Lirasan, Jomar Udtohan who was third in that race is now the favorite having the best times of 10.88 and 22.05 for the 100 and 200m Dash.
While Romnick Nor of Northern Mindanao is now UST the UAAP 100m Silver medalist, and Christopher Lirasan of Bacolod silver medalist at PRISAA. The 3 boys will also match up in the 200m dash.
And Udtohan is also showing huge promise in the 400m where he recently broke the Palarong Pambansa record with 48.7. The 17-year-old is coached by Gando. Will be up against last year’s Silver Medalist Reymond Alferos of Mapua (49.12), Lirasan (49.66) who was fourth in this event last year, and Jaime Mejia the UAAP High school record holder (49.46).
The 2014 PNG was held at Ultra Pasig. One issue here was the oval was rushed to be completed and athletes couldn’t use the track as it was drying up. Photo Credit: Airnel Abarra www.pinoyatheltics.info
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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]
You can find more information on Coaching here
http://www.pinoyathletics.info/coaching-2/