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Enrique Bautista Oly
#3 in the 200 behind Milkha Singh (India) and Abdul Khaliq (Pakistan) Bronze 1958 Tokyo Asian Games.
Born July 15, 1934, in Hagonoy, Bulacan, he stood 5’6 and 57kg.
The first performance we have noted in 11.2 as a Junior set in 21.02.1953. Therefore he finished fourth at the BPISAA that year in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
The BPISAA was the forerunner held from 1948-1973, becoming the Palarong Pambansa in 1974. Enrique Bautista was fourth in that race behind Remigio Vista, 19, Francisco, and Abdurrahim.
Enrique Bautista had his breakthrough in 1956 after 2 slow years of Men’s Sprints.
Therefore at the Inter College held at Rizal Memorial on March 3, he was the fastest Filipino at 10.8 on March 3rd. He also clocked a time of 21.6 at the same meet, which was just .2 off De Guzman’s national record.
New Sprint King
The following week was the National Championships at Rizal Memorial. Enrique Bautista was up against Genaro Cabrerra, who had been the country’s fastest man for the past 6 years, starting in 1949. Cabrerra narrowly won the first heat in 10.9 from Musir Samampat at 11.0, Germino Are at 11.1, and Claro Pellosis at 11.2.
In addition, Enrique Bautista matched this with 10.9 in Heat 2, ahead of visitor RJ Long 11.0 and Remigio Vista 11.1. 2 Americans won Heat 3 and Heat 4.
In the Final, Bautista won again, matching 10.9. In conclusion ending the dominance of the aging Cabrerra, who took silver and 11.0 Pedro Subido was bronze in 11.1; the trio beat the American visitors.
In addition, in the 200m, Enrique Bautista won Heat 1 in 22.4, beating old foe Remigio Vista at 22.7 and Arnulfo Alvaro at 23.2, the 1953 National Champion.
Bautista claimed the national title in 22.0 narrowly beating D. Remota at 22.1 and Akugi of Japan at 22.3.
In 1957 he clocked 10.5 in Manila; tying the National Record of Antonio Salcedo (1936) and Nemesio De Guzman (1936 and 1939). He again tied the national record in 1958 with a 10.5 clocking and another 21.6 in the 200m.
Defining Moments
The Defining Moments for Enrique Bautista was in 1958 at the Tokyo Asian Games. He took a Bronze in the 200m, behind the great Milka Singh (India), who set a games record in 21.6, and Abdul Khaliq of Pakistan at 21.7.
A more solid effort in the 4×100 would see him as an anchor runner with Vista, Isac Gomez, and Pedro Subido. Narrowly clinching the Gold Medal over Japan with both registering 41.4, Pakistan a very close battle with Bronze in 41.5.
In 1959 he timed 10.6 and 21.7.
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1960 Olympics Rome
In the 1960 Olympics in Rome. In conclusion, he timed a disappointing 23.16 in the heats placing 5th in heat 8 and did not progress. He was also a member of the 4×100, which was 4th in heat 4 in 41.55, and failed to progress.
In 1961 he clocked 10.6 and 21.9. He finished third in the Singapore Nationals in 22.1 in the 200m. At 27, it saw the rise of a new star Rogelio Onofre who had converted from High Jump to the sprints.
Just as Cabrera had ruled the Sprints from 1949 to 1955. Bautista’s time at the top was coming to an end in 1956-1961, also enjoying, like Cabrerra, a 6-year reign as the country’s alpha sprinter.
By 1962, Bautista was playing second fiddle to Rogelio Onofre. And was more of a relay runner. He timed 10.7 by age 28 in 1962, which placed him as the country’s 5th fastest runner that year.
Behind Onofre, Vista, Gomez, and Gaya. In the 200m, he was now second to his contemporary Isac Gomez. However, Bautista timed 22.0 that year and in the Asian Games in Jakarta was eliminated 4th in his heat in 22.75. In conclusion, after that year, he retired.
Bautista died July 25, 2005, at age 71, in Pittsburgh, California, United States.
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