Baguio City—Achieving bronze-medal standards set during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games will be the goal of two long-distance runners in the Ayala Philippine Athletics Championships, slated to take place on Thursday and Friday at the Baguio Athletic Bowl here.
Surpassing the times achieved by third-place finishers when the biennial meet was held in the Philippines two years ago will determine the national bets’ readiness for the Vietnam Games this May.
National coach Eduardo Buenavista, who is supervising the preparations of Jerald Zabala and Christine Hallasgo, said this a day before the start of competitions.
Hallaso and Zabala, who be competing in the the men’s and women’s 10,000-meters, have trained in Baguio for two months trying to get back in shape after spending months in lockdown.
Zabala settled for fifth place two years ago with a time of two hours, 37 minutes and 20 seconds and he needs to stay close to the clocking of bronze medallist Muhaizar Mohamad (2:33.08) to determine where he stands in the event.
Hallasgo, the defending women’s titleholder, needs to stay within the range of Vietnamese runner Phạm Thị Hồng Lệ’s 3:02.52 to find out where she is now in her SEAG preparations.
“Iyun ang basehan para maganda ang result,” said Buenavista following the conclusion of Wednesday’s morning workouts.
Cool weather will greet participants in the National Open as temperatures hover between 12 to 13-degrees Celsius before it climbs to more comfortable levels at midday in the City of Pines.
This is expected to test the endurance and resolve of the more than 200 athletes who showed up in the 32 events that will be held over the next two days.
“They will be competing at this temperature levels. This will be the first time that we will have the national championships under this condition,” said national coach Jeoffrey Chua, who is overseeing the performances of sprint athletes.
Reigning SEA Games decathlete medallists Aries Toledo and Janry Ubas will be around, but they will be seeking medals in a different event as they will try to hold their own against local bets in the heptathlon.
Former national team member Katherine Kaye Santos is returning after retiring in 2015 when she saw action in the 100-meter dash, the long jump, triple jump and the relays.
The 31-year-old Santos will seek a podium finish against the likes of former Palarong Pambansa standout Erica Ruto.
Strict health and safety protocols imposed by authorities in Baguio City will keep spectators from coming to the venue to watch competitions live.
As part of precautions to halt the spread of the coronavirus, competitions can viewed by the public through livestreamed updates.
The meet was originally set to go on from December 9 to 10 at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City, but damage to some of the facilities because of heavy rains have forced organizers to do the competitions in Baguio City.
Also participating is Marestella Torres-Sunang, who has changed her mind on her plans to retire from active competition in the women’s long jump.
Others expected to make their presence felt are reigning Southeast Asian Games gold medallists Clinton Kingsley Bautista (men’s 100-meter hurdles) and javelin thrower Melvin Calano.
