Last Updated on October 1, 2022 by Andrew Pirie
Isidro Del Prado: Legacy of the quarter mile
By Pirie Enzo with insights by Ignacio Dee
First Published 12 July 2013
In the early 80s, a young man emerged who would take the Men’s 400m dash further than any Filipino that came before him.
Also, he set a new benchmark in this event until today; his performance of 45.57 remains the Filipino National Record.
28 years later and still a respectable time at the international level.
Especially relevant, though, was, in turn, he created a legacy guiding and inspiring the next generation of athletes.
Hence to SEA Games championships in his pet event.
Finding those who were brave enough to endure the grueling quarter mile.
Isidro Del Prado was born May 15, 1959, in Cagang, Barcelona, Sorsogon. He stood at 5’9 73kg in his prime.
Del Prado was originally trained under the duo of Magno Santos Jr. and Arsenio Jazmin.
Isidro Del Prado went to the ASEAN School Games in 1979, aged 20. However, he was not yet a 400m runner; he was entered in the 800m dash with the best time of 1:55.0.
By far the fastest competitor in the race with ASEAN Record standing at 1:57.3.
‘Del’ to family, friends, and athletes, Del Prado is best remembered for becoming one of the two most successful athletes the country has produced under Project: Gintong Alay during martial law.
Yet this project was based largely on the multi-million dollar venture of the Australian Sports system.
The other one was former Asian sprint queen Lydia de Vega, who became the project’s face, a training program copied and envied by several Southeast Asian countries in the 80s.
“It was a good program. It produced results,” said Del Prado in regards to the Gintong Alay.
Isidro Del Prado vs Rabuan Pit
Del Prado now advised focussing as well on the 400m won the unique double. Reminiscent of Cuban Alberto Juantorena’s 1976 Olympic double victory at the 800-meter run in 1:48.79 in 1981. Yet it would be exactly 20 years till another Filipino would win the Men’s 800m a the SEA Games.
Del Prado made the 400m Finals at the 1981 Asian Championships in Tokyo with 47.43 in semi’s, but he was disqualified. Along with Marlon Pagaliluan, Honesto Larce, and Renato Unso, they took a distant 4th place in the 4x400m Relay.
Also, he set the 400m in a New SEA Games Record in 47.10. Very narrowly holding off defending SEA Games Champion Rabuan Pit of Malaysia. Who is a blanket finish who clocked in at 47.15? Simultaneously, Del Prado would defeat Pit again at the ASEAN Cup in Kuala Lumpur in November of 1982, 47.1 to 47.3.
Asian Champion, but Jadi steals the SEA Games Crown.
He made the Semi-Finals at his first Asian Games in 800m, timing 1:50.62.
The following year, his travels took him to Australia in March due to his Gintong Alay boss Michael Marcos Keon connection. He placed second in the 400m at the Australian National Championships in 46.38.
Del Prado would defend his SEA Games title in 1983 with a time of 46.40. Also, he would capture his first Asian title that year in Kuwait. With 46.24 holdings off Aouf Abdulrahman Yousef of Iraq (46.74), the bronze medalist from the previous Asian Championships, and upcoming (46.76) Mohammed Abdin Jadi of Malaysia, who would later deprive Del Prado of his SEA Games titles.
Del Prado ran at the inaugural World Championships in Helsinki but did not advance, placing fourth in his heat in 46.92.
Also, Del Prado ran at the 1984 Olympic Games, placing third in his heat in 46.82, which was good enough to qualify for the quarter-final in which he finished last in 46.71.
The Famous Victories of the Bicol Express in 1985 in the Men’s 4×400 in a record of 3:06.58 at the Bangkok SEA Games in 1985 remains untouched to this day. Then Del Prado teamed up with Romeo Gido, Honesto Larce, and Marlon Pagaliluan. Hence it would be 20 years before the Philippines would recapture the SEA Games title in this event.
While Del Prado lost his SEA Games title, pulling up in the heat in 49.01. And not contesting the final but was able to run the 4×400 two days later.
Yet losing his SEA Games title to Jadi 46.56 to 46.78. However, Del successfully defended his Asian title that year, improving to 45.61, holding off Mohammed Al-Malki of Oman 46.45, who later would claim the title in 1987 with Yousef third in 46.67.
While Del Prado never won a gold at the Asian Games, he did capture Golds at Asian Track and Field. He clocked 45.96 in the 1986 Asian Games to place second to defending champion Susumu Takano of Japan, who defended his title he had won in 1982.
SEA Games Champion one last time and moving on
It took him six years to regain it in 1989 with a time of 47.20. And put Jadi of Malaysia, who had won the last two SEA games, well and truly behind him (47.89). Del Prado would also return to the 800m clocking 1:49.34 for Silver by Samson Vallabouy of Malaysia.
In 1990 he did not participate in the 400m but ran the 800 in Asian Games. Likein 1982 he failed to make the final with a time of 1:53.51.
Isidro was coached by the Australian Anthony ‘Tony’ Benson during the Gintong Alay era. Who started this about his former ward on his website?
Isidro was one of the most talented athletes I ever had the privilege of coaching. With a 45.6/400m pb and great natural endurance he was a potential sub 1:40 minute 800m runner. Moving forward I’m very proud he became the Philippines Head Coach.
When Benson left in 1982, he came under Marcelo Langurayan, a former 800 and 1500 national champion in the late 1960s. Langurayan, who retired as a police chief superintendent (the military rank equivalent is one-star general), stayed until 1986. His Performance waned in the 400m from his best in 1984 of 45.57 at age 25 to 46.78 by 1987.
For several years Isidro Del Prado was the head coach of the Philippine team. Guiding Ernie Candelario (2001,2003), Jimar Aing (2005), and Julius Nierras (2007) to SEA Games gold in the 400m. He took a role as Brunei Coach in 2009. Where he guided Hafiti Rositi to a national record (ref spin. ph).
Both Del Prado’s sons Isidro Del Prado Jr. (2013, SEA Games Gold 4×400) and Michael Carlo Del Prado (2017 & 2019, SEA Games Bronze 4×400) became SEA Games medalists in their own right, but neither could get near the performance of their father in the individual event.
The progress of 400m National Record
- 1956 Carlos Kevin Tan, Chico, (47.5y) *converted from Yards
- 1958 Pablo Somblingo, Tokyo, Asian Games (48.5)
- 1962 Arsenio Larosa Jasmin, Jakarta, Asian Games (48.4 / 48.49 adjusted time)
- 1973 Santos Magno, Marikina, Nationals? (48.0) (Magno and Clemente Lupangoo both ran the same time, but Magno was placed ahead)
- 1974 Clemente Lupangoo, Tehran, Iran, Asian Games (48.41)
Isidro Del Prado
- 1981 SEA Games, Manila (47.10)
- 1983
- Armed Forces USA and Philippines Games (46.95)
- Nanking (46.73)
- Australian National Champs, Brisbane (46.38)
- AAA Track and Field Champs, Kuwait (46.24)
- (46.19)
- 1984 ASEAN Cup, Manila(45.57)
References
- http://www.spin.ph/sports/olympics/news/del-prado-gives-brunei-athletics-a-boost
- New Strait Times archives
- Isidro Del Prado facebook clippings resource
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/