Last Updated on May 24, 2023 by Andrew Pirie
2015 Philippines National Open Athletics Day 1
Continued from
2015 National Open Day 1 – Womens Report- Long Jump Queen Torres’s golden streak continues
Olympian Marestella Torres showed no sign of age with a SEA Games Gold medal standard of 6.47m. Katherine Khay Santos the 2011 SEA Games Bronze medalist tied her PB with a throw of 6.25m. The 34-year-old Marestella will be up against Asian Games Gold Medalist Natalia Maria Londa the defending SEA Games champion. Before that Marestella had won four SEA Games titles.
Torres who had given birth last year continues to improve her best performance leading up to SEA Games. She holds the SEA Games Record with a best leap of 6.71m from Palembang. Torres a former Asian Champion in the Long Jump resumed her athletics career back in April of last year.
Im confident I am on the right track for the SEA Games. said the 34 year old.
Delos Santos misses out on 10K SEA Standard
On the distaff side, Mary Grace Delos Santos of PAF, which may be on one of those betting sites like tridewa, timed in 38:05.83 to capture gold in a 10,000m run. Landing second place is Army’s Jho-An Banayag with a finish of 39:34.65. While her colleague Janice Tawagin ranked third with a time of 40:39.56.
Delos Santos who is a former 2x Milo Marathon Queen missed out on the SEA Games qualification mark of 37:41.96. Her best time of 37:50 was run at the national games last year. Jho-An Banayag the 2009 SEA Games Marathon Champion and National Record Holder is making a return to competition after giving birth a year back. Delos Santos pretty much ran solo after the first few laps and was unable to sustain a fast enough pace to hit the SEA Mark.
Silvosa gets the better over Filam Challenger
800m run as of press time was won by Janelle Silvosa of Team PLDT who clocked in 2:17.6 (Partial/Unofficial) edging New York-based Fil-Am runner Isang Smith of PAF-A who landed second with a run of 2:18. Her run lagged behind the SEA Games standard which will settle her to try on the 2017 edition of the biennial meet.
Smith trailed at the start but slowly built up to take the lead until she was outkicked by the 20-year-old Silvosa. The 27-year-old Smith who 6 years ago was a 56.01 400m and 400 Hurdler when she was at college at Columbia University had her first try over the 800 this season, lowering her best time.
Janario takes two Gold
National Junior Record Holder Karen Janario, 15 of Leyte Sports Academy defended her 100 Hurdle title in 15.14, albeit far from her 14.52 Record. Her teammate Melissa Escoton the Palaro Champion was second at 15.42, and Judy Ann Rendora of TMS at 15.76. Janario came back later to win her first major 400m title in 59.21.
Despite a poor turnout in the women’s 400m, Jinky Obanon of PLDT defended her title with a 58.46 run. Outside her, a PB of 57.3 ran at the Uni Games.
Evergreen Nars Atienza, 36 the National Record Holder took silver in the women’s High Jump at 1.75m behind Michelle Sng (Singapore) at 1.84m who set a Singapore National Record. Nars also took the shot put title with 12.20m.
Aira Teodosio (UST) took the girl’s discus throw in 38.59m. ASEAN School Games bronze medalist Carlo Caong took the national junior title with a throw of 42.18m. Edging out Ryan Penaso of San Sebastian 41.88m.
Santos Wins Century Dash
Mar 20, 2015
Prof. Airnel T. Abarra for www.pinoyathletics.info
SANTA CRUZ, LAGUNA- It’s a fine and hot day at the first salvo of the events during the 2015 Philippine National Open here at the Laguna Sports Complex, Brgy. Bubukal Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Both homegrown Fil-heritage and guest athletes from different ASEAN countries were seen in action.
Mary Grace delos Santos of the Philippine Airforce grabbed the first gold. In the grueling 10,000m run clocking 38:05.83. Hence enough to joust Jho-An Banayag of the Philippine Army that hit a 39.34.65 finish. Followed by her teammate Janice Tawagin who finished third with a time of 39:34.65
Living up to the expectations, Fil-Heritage thrower Caleb Stuart stunned the audience with his whopping throw of 16.52m. Hence this is enough to trounce incumbent SEA Games silver medalist Adi Aliffudin Hussin. Hussin landed a throw of 16.05m. While homegrown Eliezer Sunang of Housing Sector etched 16.05m enough to land him in third place. Stuart got his 2nd gold in the hammer throws with a distance of 64.81m, Making him one of the most watched throwers in this year’s tourney.
In the high jump girls, Singaporean Michelle Sng went victorious with a jump of 1.65m. Winning against PH National team member Narcisa Atienza. Atienza cleared the bar at 1.75m while her colleague Charie Bauyo landed third with a jump of 1.50. Meanwhile, in the 800m women’s finals, Janel Silvoza of PLDT stunned Marisa Smith of the Philippine Airforce to secure gold by clocking 2:18.34. As the Fil-Heritage Smith etched a time of 2:18.88 while her colleague Mary Anne Perez grabbed bronze with a time of 2:25.13.
Francis Medina
It’s a sweep for Leyte Sports Academy in Hurdles as Francis Medina broke the National Junior Record in 110m Hurdles by clocking 14.23 erasing the former record at 14.52. Meanwhile, Karen Janario and Melissa Escoton captured gold and silver in 100m with a time of 15.14 and 15.42. Local bet Patrick Unso landed only 2nd with a time of 14.28 after being trounced by Muhd Ajmal Hat Jasan of Malaysia who timed 14.23.
Torres and Arriola rule Long Jump
The long Jump women’s finals were greatly anticipated as Marestella Torres and Khay Katherine Santos were seen in action. The more senior and experienced Torres proved her worth in the PH national team by leaping an impressive 6.47m while Santos settled for silver with a jump of 6.25m. Joining their ranks is Team Rio’s Felyn Dolloso who bagged the bronze with a performance of 5.49m. On the men’s sector, Fil-Heritage Donovant Arriola sneaked gold with a jump of 7.59m while DLS-CSB Bet Julian Reem Fuentes marked 7.55m and Benigno Marayag landed third with a performance of 7.43m.
Kath Santos Reigns in the 2015 Nationals Women’s Century Dash
By: Airnel T. Abarra for PinoyAthletics.info
SANTA CRUZ, LAGUNA. After capturing silver in the Women’s Long Jump on day one with an impressive mark of 6.25m. University of Baguio’s star Khay Katherine Santos captured gold in the 100m sprints, for women. On day two of the 2015 Philippine National Open Track Championships. Here at the Laguna Sports Complex, Brgy, Bubukal Sta. Cruz, Laguna on March 20.
Santos jousted Philippine Air Force Bet Karissa Lopez and secured her spot as one of the top athletes in this year’s edition of the Nationals. Santos clocked 11.99 seconds while PAF’s Karissa Ann Lopez landed 5th with a time of 12.97, and Melva Cawid of Baguio followed with a time of 13.26.
Fil-Ams Stuart and Thomas
Airnel T. Abarra for www.pinoyathletics.info
SANTA CRUZ, LAGUNA- Fil-Am Caleb Stuart (PAF) impressed the crowd by throwing in 16.52m. Which is quite near the SEA Games shot-put record of 17.74m. And still behind his personal best marked at 17.88m. Stuart’s performance today jousted SEA Games silver medalist Adi Aliffudin Hussin of Malaysia (MAS) who landed 2nd place by putting in 16.21m.
The California-based performance in this year’s nationals makes him a strong contender in the 2015 Singapore SEA Games this June. Meanwhile, homegrown Elizer Sunang landed 3rd with a throw landing in at 16.06m. NCAA Champion John Albert Mantua was fourth in 13.33m.
Stuart came back to claim his second gold for the PAF-A with a throw of 64.81m also above the old SEA Record but outside his 68.66m heave at the Ben Brown in Los Angeles last week. SEA Bronze medalist Jackie Wong Siew Cheer (MAS) was second in 63.71m PB. With 4x former SEA Gold medalist Arniel Ferrera of PAF-A in third.
Fil-am Sprinter leads in the century Dash
The Angeles City-born and Texas Tech University stand-out clocked a stunning 10.72 seconds which made him lead in the semi-finals of the tournament edging Eddie Edward Jr. of Malaysia who timed 10.96 and Noli Torres who registered a 10.97 seconds finish.
Thomas who just trained last year due to a 3-year competition hiatus is now ranked no. 3 in the 100m Men rankings in the Philippines which is still led by Eric Cray who is not present at this year’s nationals with a time of 10.52 and followed by the 10.59 mark of Bryan Mercado. Thomas holds a personal best of 10.56.
Relay spots settled for SEA Games Mens 4×400
Perhaps the most anticipated event of the National Open was the mens 400m Finals which would determine the relay composition for Team Philippines. The first four men to cross the finish line would have the honor of carrying on the tradition of winning the SEA Games 4×400, which the Philippines had won in 2011 and 2013.
When the dust settled it was an exciting display of race tactics with two older athletes holding off two up comers. Bigyan and Alejan led the charge early with Bigyan closing the stagger on SEA Games Champion Archand Bagsit. It looked like the 20-year-old Bigyan who holds the national junior record had the edge until the last 20 meters when the experienced moves coming from the 24-year-old Bagsit showed he was still the man to beat defending his national title in a time of 47.26.
His training partner Alejan the SEA Games silver medalist was second in 47.28. Bigyan knocked nearly a second off his personal best with 47.43, and Johan Caido of Baguio improved his best also by nearly a second with 47.62. The top four would represent the Philippines in the SEA Games joining Eric Cray and Jesson Cid.
Of the two other members of the SEA Games 2013 team. Del Prado was not able to progress to the finals. And Julius Nierras the 2007 SEA Games champion finished last in the final.
Donovant snatches the win in the Men’s Long Jump
The drama continued with an epic conclusion to the men’s long jump which would prove harder to decide than the 4×400. Already three athletes had qualified for the SEA Games with only two athletes to be selected. Dagmil the three times and defending SEA Games champion (7.80), Filam Donovant Ariola (7.64 the national indoor record holder), and 2011 SEA Games Bronze medalist Benigno Marayag (7.57). The SEA Standard was set at 7.53.
The tension built on and off the track oval for the decision of who would represent the Philippines. At the 2015 SEA Games in the men’s long jump. As only 2 athletes per country per event. Dagmil due to an injury was sidelined in what would go down as one of the greatest long jump battles in the history of national open championships.
It was clear that a new national champion would be crowned with Dagmil having won this meet for the last 10 years.
The surprise came early with Marayag and Ariola fouling a lot of their early jumps. The surprise came from the youngster 20-year-old Julian ‘Happy Clowns’ Fuentes the Palaro Record Holder who improved his personal best from 7.30 to 7.55 and took the lead.
However, the 6’1 Donovant would snatch the win on his last jump with a 7.59m outdoor PB. Clowns were second in 7.55m and Marayag third in 7.43m. NCAA Champion Harry Diones was fourth in 7.29m PB.
Medina breaks own Junior Record
Francis Medina broke his own National Junior Record in the Junior 110 Hurdles (.991m) with a run of 14.23. Medina a dean’s list student at Perpetual Help Dalta shattered the mark he set at the ASEAN School Games of 14.52. Alexis Soqueno (Negros) 14.68 and Alvin Vergel (TMS) 14.88 who will go head to head at the Palaro took the silver and bronze.
The Mens Hurdles was won by Muhd Ajmal Hasan of Malaysia in 14.23, Hasan is Malaysia’s third-best hurdler. Behind him was UAAP Champion Patrick Unso 14.28 and 2014 PNG Champion Clinton Kingsley Bautista 14.66.
Leyte’s Francis Medina Sweeps 2015 Nationals Junior Hurdles
Prof. Airnel T. Abarra for www.pinoyathletics.info
SANTA CRUZ, LAGUNA- After breaking the junior record in 110m hurdles. Leyte’s Sports Academy stand-out Francis Medina hauled double golds. By sneaking the 400m hurdles on day three of action. Here at the 2015 Philippine National Open Athletics Championships. Here in Laguna Sports Complex, Brgy.Bubukal, Sta. Cruz, Laguna. (Official time and results to follow)
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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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