Donovant Arriola Grant

Donovant Arriola Grant

PinoyAthletics adds Fil-Heritage Long Jumper Donovant Arriola Grant to the PinoyAthletics Legends of Track and Field. The 2015 SEA Games Bronze Medalist in the Long Jump is also the Philippine Indoor Record Holder in the Long Jump at 7.64m. He also has leaped a wind-aided 7.90m +4.8 m/s and a legit 7.64m outdoors. Arriola last competed in December 2019. He meets all three criteria to be in the Legends. Holds or has held a Phi Record, SEA Games Individual medalist, and no longer active.

 

Week 1: Hard work pays off Donovant 7.64m Long Jump (rev 1)

 Mar 3, 2015

23-year-old Fil-Heritage Long Jumper Donovant Arriola (aka. Donovant Grant) was rewarded after an up and down twelve months with a big personal best of 7.64m (25 feet 1/4 inch).

The indoor mark was set at the New Mexico Invitational at Albuquerque on February 6. Has broke the national indoor record. Which was set by Henry Dagmil at the Asian Indoor Championships last year in Guangzhou at 7.43m

“Track legends such as Henry Dagmil. and Joebert Delicano just to name a few have being very supportive of me making my dream” said a delighted Donovant.

“I hope to play on the same meet as Henry”. said Donovant.

 

It hasn’t always been easy for Donovant, whose Filipina mother passed away when he was very young. The 6’1 jumper learned about the opportunities to represent the Philippines from his buddy Eric Cray who is from the same town of El Paso.

Donovant, whose previous best was 7.53m, made an appearance at the 2014 National Games in Pasig, but after straining his hamstring, he could only finish a miserable ninth place in 6.67m. However, with the hard work put in by Donovont, strong support from his family, and strong belief from his coach, Jamaican former Olympian Lacena Golding Clarke, he managed to get through the toughest of times.

Statistically speaking, Donovant’s leap was the 4th of all time by a Filipino with Dagmil (7.99m), Joebert Delicano (7.75m), and Nino Ramirez (7.64m, 1936).

 

The Three-Way Dance

With SEA Games selection for athletics due to draw to a close at the end of March. It will be an interesting three-way showdown at the National Championships in March. Three-time SEA Games Gold Medalist, Olympian, and National Record Holder Henry Dagmil, 34, will be the main candidate here with his best performance of 7.80m in 2013 and 7.56m in 2014.

The mix is Benigno Marayag, 29, the 2011 SEA Games Bronze medalist, who has a PB of 7.61m and the best leap in the last 6 months of 7.57m.

On paper, right now, it’s Dagmil (7.80 defending champion rule) and Donovont (7.64 indoors) going to the SEA Games. With any other contender needs over 7.65m to displace them unless, of course, they raise the standard even higher.

Dagmil, Donovont, and Marayag have all leaped over 7.53m (SEA Games Bronze). The order of placing at the national open may also be something the PATAFA considers in the selection process.

Regardless or not whether he holds onto the second spot for the SEA Games, due to his age, Donovant will be a name that will undoubtedly represent the Philippines for many years to come and a worthy successor to the two gentlemen mentioned above. He is young enough to present a challenge to 2009, and 2011 SEA Games Champion Supanara Sukasvasti (born 1992) of Thailand for many years to come.

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Feb 17,  2015

Donovont Arriola ‘nee Grant’ simultaneously met as Eric Cray leaped 7.54m, his second-best performance of all time. He leaped 7.64m last week, establishing a new Philippine Indoor Record. This performance is again also over the 7.53m Bronze standard for SEA Games.

With Dagmil, Marayag, and Donovant all over the standard, the three will duel it out at the national open next month in Laguna.

 

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