Last Updated on March 4, 2023 by Andrew Pirie
2014 Weekly Relays August
PLDT’s ‘Piston’ hits SEA Gold Standard in 1500m
August 11, 2014
23-year-old PLDT Athlete Roldan Verano, 23. Clocked the second-fastest time in South East Asia Sundays Morning Weekly Relays at Phil Sports, Pasig.
The pint-sized yet stocky Verano, a former NCAA standout. He bears a striking resemblance to Marathon King Eduardo Buenavista.
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Verano’s time of 3:55.3 was not only a 3-second personal record but gave him the second-fastest time in South East Asia this year. It also surpasses the 3.58.02 Gold Medal time of Mohd Jironi Riduan of Malaysia at the 2013 SEA Games.
The fastest time in South East Asia was from National Record Holder (3.47.65, 2011 SEA Games) Mervin Guarte, who clocked 3:55.10 to win the national games in May, Wenlie Maulas was second then in 3:58.30, and Roldan Verano third in 3:59.74.
Verano, however, improved to 3:58.6 and then 3:55.3 taking full advantage of the Weekly Relay meets to better his performances.
The 1500m was a fantastic race with JRU team-mate Rudyfer Hernandez 3:57.8 and Jomar Angus (FEU) 3:59.5, both registering personal best times. Former national coach George Posadas train both Verano and Hernandez.
The SEA Games Bronze minimal standard was 3:58.37 with Guarte, Verano, Rudyfer, and Maulas all under that even though there may be bright days ahead for Philippine Middle Distance running. Next Saturday at Pasig is the 800m and all the above have been invited to a Grand Prix of 800m Runners.
Verano’s time was hand time, but we used 3 stopwatches; his times were 3:55.10, 3:55.24, and 3:55.71 as the middle time was 3:55.24; the official result is 3:55.3 with .14 conversion rule 3:55.44 is his converted time.
“I have qualified for the SEA Games,” said a delighted Verano. “I hope this performance is good enough to give me a slot in the national team, I really hope but I have my fingers crossed just in case”.
Verano proves that the Weekly Relays fulfill its motto of being a breeding ground of excellence, with upcoming athletes performing exceptionally well.
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Patch Unso back in shape
Another athlete that showed a return to form on Sunday was National Junior Record Holder and former National Record Holder in the 110 Hurdles Patrick Unso. The 22-year-old who a few years ago was the country’s most dominant Hurdler ended up playing second fiddle to Eric Cray and then Clinton Kingsley Bautista in the 2013 and 2014 National Games.
Today was a different story. Running in lane 8, the DLSU masteral student clocked 14.2 (.11) and glided much more smoothly over the hurdles than earlier in the year in what was pretty much a solo effort against some college runners. His time which is around 14.4-14.4et), showed he is now in better shape than the 14.77 he recorded at the National Games in May, albeit still away from his 14.21 personal best at the 2013 National Games.
Meanwhile, National Champion UST Tigress Michelle Loterte, who had her first race this year, easily took the honors in the women’s Hurdles in 15.4 (.33) (15.64 on conversion), quite far from her 14.96 personal best she established 2 years ago.
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Neck to Neck Battle in the invitational Mens 400m
With the top 400 Hurdlers Junrey Bano and Jaime Mejia not starting. It was a 6-man field in the mens 400m Invitational A Race. UAAP Bronze medalist Gabriel Soriano (UP) led the way, but then a strong finishing Rey Aldrin the NCAA Champion (JRU) overhauled Gab in the last 30m, with Gab fighting on in a blanket finish. Aldrin clocked 49.88 and Gab 49.92 (both hand-timed), 2013 National Junior champion Reymond Alferos of Mapua was third in 50.5, and National Junior Bronze medalist Dustin De Vera (UST) 4th in 50.7.
Meanwhile, in the Womens 400m Invitational A. UAAP Record Holder, Jenny Rosales (UE) made short work of opponents winning in 58.8 (.56 and .72) with Leah Ann Creer ‘Bear’ (DLSU)second in 1.00.6 (.56) and Neslee Angco of UE third in 1.01.3 (.26).
Creer team-mate the Palaro Champion Mary Anthony Diesto won the Long Jump in 5.23m, despite a strong challenge from several UST girls who also leaped above 5 meters.
Weekly Relays is moved to Saturday this week only (rev 1)
August 11, 2014
The Advisory is that we will move the weekly relays from Sunday 17th of August to the 16th of August for this week. I have been informed that Phil Sports is being used for another event on Sunday, so it has been moved to Saturday for this week only. It will be Schedule C (please get the schedule details here)
We will post the fields for the invitational races shortly once we have the entries confirmed.
*Also add mens 800m John Rued Acanto 1:56.74.
Week 6 Report: Obiena raises National Records to 5.15m (Aug 16)
Ernest John Obiena again raised the National and National Junior Record to 5.15m. The 18-year-old Obiena has taken the Junior Mark to a mere footmark of its former 4.30m to 5.15m over the past few years.
Obiena is an example of an athlete who benefited from the IAAF’s Italian Training via former PATAFA President Go Teng Kok. He trained for three months in Italy with coach Vitaliy (former Bubka, former world record-holder).
Obiena returned with a foot injury. But could leap 5.01m to break the long-standing mark of Olympian and 3 times SEA Games Champion Edward Lasquete (5.00m). Followed by a 5.05m the following week. He came back a few weeks later today to leap 5.06m, 5.10m, and then 5.15m to pull the record to new heights.
EJ, who narrowly missed out on the Asian Games 5th place requirement of 5.20m. Hopes to see action in Singapore Open this coming week. He has greatly benefited from the PSC-PATAFA Weekly Relay Program.
The Performance of 5.15m ranks EJ first equal with Iskandar Alwi of Malaysia. He also tied the winning Gold Medal mark of Kreetha Sintacheewa of Thailand at 5.15m, Alwi at 5.10m, and Sompong of Thailand at 5.00m at the 2013 SEA Games. Sintacheewa, who is training in Italy, now has a best of 5.10m this year.
Invitational A draws out the best of the rest.
I have implemented the Invitational A race. Drawing out increased performances from the ‘Best of the Rest.’ While not all the top athletes are competing here. It is beginning to attract some of the Philippines’ better athletes. What the Invitational ‘A’ is a pre-planned first heat for the track events in some cases one week before the event. The entries are decided based on best times and seasonal best times and recent performances. Ensuring that the best athletes in the meet are all placed against each other which leads to increased performance.
I want to thank all those who support the concept of the Invitational ‘A’. We would point out this race is about quality performance. If there are spare lanes, we prefer to leave them free to retain the race’s quality. As a few of the invited are unable to attend due to school, injury, or other reasons.
I will list some examples below with today’s results.
800m Mens Invitational ‘A’
- 1:52.6 Paul Billones (SB)
- 1:52.9 Roldan Verano (PB)
- 1.53.1 Ebren Neri (PB)
- 1.55.0 Joe Marie Juelo (PB)
- 1:55.4 Rued Acanto (PB)
- 1:56.4 Jomar Angus (PB)
As you can see, Paul Billones ran the best time for this year. And the next 5 runners all improved their personal best times. This would not have been possible without a good allocation of runners in events. As they probably would not have been placed usually in the Invitational A race together).
200m Men’s Invitational ‘A.’
- 21.9 Jose Unso
- 22.1 Isidro Del Prado Jr. (SB)
- 22.2 Rey Aldrin (PB)
- 22.6 Rodquem Maullon
- 22.7 Peter Padal
- 22.8 Pearnel Lobos
- 24.6 some other dude
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We evenly placed the first heat with 6 invited runners running sub 23. The 24.6 guys weren’t invited to the first heat but put themselves in the race. Where he was outclassed by nearly 10 meters from the place in front of him. National Silver Medalist Jose Unso blitzed the field some 5-6 meters ahead of Del Prado. The UAAP Champion after 100m; however, Del Prado fought his way back from 5th at the 100m to second, but Jose put too much on the rest at the start. Anfernee Lopena was not able to attend due to an upset stomach. Still, we are delighted at the dedication and support regularly, showing up to Weekly Relays. Romnick Nor had a sore hamstring, so wisely opted not to run).
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200m Women’s Invitational ‘A.’
- 25.4 Eloiza Luzon (PB),
- 25.8 Jinky Obanon (PB),
- 26.1 Maureen Emily Schrijvers (SB),
- 26.4 Glaiza Salcedo,
- 26.5 Leah Ann Creer
A good evenly matched heat of athletes who were all on paper sub 26 runners based on PB. UAAP Record Holder Jenny Rosales withdrew as she had class today. UAAP Silver medalist Eloiza Luzon, 18, recorded a new PB of 25.4 to win the Women’s Invitational A Race. The Former Palaro Champion from Northern Mindanao held off Jinky Obanon, second to Jenny last week, and improved her 25.9.
In the 2nd heat, Happy Denuyo won in 26.7, and in heat 3, Palaro 100m Champion Mary Anthony Diesto in 26.9. Diesto was listed as heat 2, but the lanes filled up, so she had to go to heat 3.
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400H and Pach were injured in 4×100
Patrick Unso won the 400 Hurdles in 53.5; the other race results are not currently available, but again we evenly matched it as the slower runners already grabbed most of the lanes in Heat 1. So heat 2 became the Invitational ‘A’ Race.
Unfortunately, Pach injured his hamstring in the 4×100 on the last leg. I immediately alerted the medics to go over there, and I had to assist with medical treatment and advise the medics to crush the ice as they were applying big chunks on him, which was ineffective.
2014 Weekly Relays August
Invitational A Concept and Start Lists for Weekly Relays Sunday 20th of August (revised)
Aug 20
The Invitational A has been introduced to the weekly relays by ATFS Statistician Andrew Pirie, a PSC Consultant for the meet. I work for Commissioner Gomez, who assisted in helping revive the Weekly Relays a few years back.
As some do not understand this event’s purpose and concept, we have outlined this concept of this idea. This is to help promote athletics. We want people’s support; we are not trying to alienate or leave anyone out; we want to persuade people it’s a good idea. We are very thankful for everyone’s continued support in promoting athletics.
The Weekly Relays is the breeding ground of excellence, and the elite race will help inspire upcoming athletes by giving them something bigger to aim for in the future.
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The Concept of the Invitational A race is as follows.
- It is an elite race that is only for athletes who are invited to participate.
- The athletes are chosen based on the best times for the year or personal best times based on the Philippine Ranking Lists.
- If the best athletes are not available, we keep going down the list until the best 8 available are selected for the race.
- These eight names are locked in before the race starts.
- This concept is applied to track events, but there is no reason why we can’t also apply it to field events.
- The first heat of an event is considered the Invitational A Race.
New ideas
- The Invitational A competitors would be announced before the meeting.
- The Invitational A competitors will be announced by lane before the start of the race.
Restrictions
- To ensure the quality of an Invitational A race, athletes who are not invited to the race may not join.
- If there are empty lanes as athletes withdraw, they remain empty in an Invitational A Race.
- Athletes who sneak their way into Invitational A Races will be asked to leave or disqualified from the official results.
Week 6 Report OBIENA RAISES THE BAR TO 5.15M
Ernest John Obiena again raised the National and National Junior Record to 5.15m. The 18-year-old Obiena has taken the Junior Mark to a mere footmark of its former 4.30m to 5.15m over the past few years.
Obiena is an example of an athlete who benefited from the IAAF’s Italian Training via former PATAFA President Go Teng Kok. He trained for three months in Italy with coach Vitaliy (former Bubka former world record-holder).
Obiena returned with a foot injury but could leap 5.01m to break the long-standing mark of Olympian and 3 times SEA Games Champion Edward Lasquete (5.00m), followed by a 5.05m the following week. He came back a few weeks later today to leap 5.06m, 5.10m, and then 5.15m to pull the record to new heights.
EJ, who narrowly missed out on the Asian Games 5th place requirement of 5.20m, hopes to see action in Singapore Open this coming week. He has greatly benefited from the PSC-PATAFA Weekly Relay Program.
The Performance of 5.15m ranks EJ first equal with Iskandar Alwi of Malaysia. He also tied the winning Gold Medal mark of Kreetha Sintacheewa of Thailand at 5.15m, Alwi at 5.10m, and Sompong of Thailand at 5.00m at the 2013 SEA Games. Sintacheewa, who is training in Italy, now has a best of 5.10m this year.
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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/