Parallel lanes

The 97 aspirants who seek presidency are expected trimmed down to single digit. Others may be found insincere to run. Just like sprints where only eight fastest qualify to the final. Even the great Lydia de Vega did not run fast enough beyond Olympic quarterfinals.

While one more lane is added to the new oval, it accommodates only eight with clear chance to medal. Just like some aspirants without a chance to obtain vote by the thousands. Even a million votes do not earn that once-in-a-lifetime ticket to Malacañang.

Usain Bolt left his throne too wide open a virtual unknown Italian won the 100m final in Tokyo by surprise. Just like the multi-party system yielding a president by plurality, not majority. Does not majority win in a democracy? Not necessarily. Numbers win, but whether the people won is another thing.

One country may dominate the sprints like America before and Jamaica now. Just as one party may win one election after another. But no presidential occupant repeats due to term limit, unlike Elaine Thompson-Herah who defended her century dash crown. Her 10.61s would have left Sha’Carri Robinson gasping. But the flamboyant American was spared of the embarrassment. She was weeded out from Tokyo for smoking weed. But lifestyle does not disqualify a candidate, unless perpetually disqualified to hold public office.

In a post-Olympic match, Robinson finished dead last but brashly assured she’s not finished, opening her mouth faster than her legs. Just like some losers who never concede defeat and cry fraud. Without evidence. While Fil-Am Kristina Marie Knott finished last in the qualifying heat of her Olympic debut, she at least owned up to nerves unnerving her. Do Knott count her out though, she redeems herself against regional and continental best. But history has not afforded a loser another chance to win the presidency. Once beaten, almost forgotten. But it may be rewritten.

Some withdraw before the race, like injured runners. Others disqualified, like nuisance candidates. On track they’re marked either did not start or did not finish. A withdrawing candidate may be replaced by another from the same party. Just as a runner may be replaced by another from the same country.

Most sprint races are decided by the slimmest of margins invisible to the naked eye. It took almost an hour to unlock the dead heat between Merlene Ottey and Gail Devers in the 1993 worlds. The American hurdler emerged winner after separated by one thousandth of a second from her Jamaican rival. Just as in 1992, a woman lost to a general by a little less than a million votes from the 24 million turnout. The last vice-presidential race was closer, about a quarter of a million separated the winner and the loser.

A few decided races are reversed. The silver medalists wore the gold of the disgraced Ben Johnson and Marion Jones after they were caught doped. Just as proclaimed winners are unseated after found unqualified. The second placer becomes the first placer. On track runners thrill the fans while the elected should serve the country with a better life. Whoever crosses the finish line first, only future history tells if the sovereign Filipino people willed for the common weal.