MANILA, Philippines - The country’s finest athletes and some of the region’s best will head to Ilagan City in Isabela for the 12th Southeast Asian Youth Athletics Championships and the Ayala Philippine Open Invitational Athletics Championships.
Philip Ella Juico, president of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, yesterday announced the staging of the twin events during a press conference also graced by Jay Diaz, former mayor of Ilagan City and athletics godfather Jim Lafferty.
The SEA Youth event will feature athletes aged 15-17 years from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Timor Leste and the Philippines. Action in 18 events for boys and girls will take place from March 27-28 at the Ilagan Sports Complex.
The Ayala Philippine National Open is expected to attract close to a thousand athletes, 100 of them from Iraq, Guam, Sri Lanka and some Southeast Asian countries. All SEA Games events except marathon will be on tap from March 30-April 2.
This year’s National Open marks the beginning of a long-term partnership between the Patafa and Ayala Corp., which is throwing its full support on the Filipino track and field bets to this year’s SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, 2019 SEA Games in Manila and 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
“It’s a big shot in the arm,” said Juico of Ayala’s generosity.
Juico said National Open will serve as qualifier for the team to the SEA Games in August and will lure Fil-foreign athletes like Eric Cray, Caleb Stuart, Donovant Arriola, Tyler Ruiz and Trenten Beram.
“It is the qualifying to SEA Games and like the previous National Opens we expect Philippine records to be broken. Some foreign countries are also sending their best. So, this will be a gauge. It’s time for scouting,” said Juico.
Ilagan City Mayor Evelyn Diaz, who was represented in the press launch by her husband, is leaving no stone unturned making sure that the events will be a huge success.
“The City of Ilagan is ready. The accommodation, transportation and security are 95 percent in place,” said Diaz, reminding everybody that Ilagan is one of the most peaceful cities in the country.
Lafferty, who’s been providing financial support on Philippine athletics, particularly long jump specialist Marestella Torres, hailed the entry of Ayala Corp. as a major benefactor.
“This is great for Philippine sports not only for track and field,” said Lafferty, adding that taxpayers’ money is not enough to give the athletes everything they need. He said help from the private sector is the key to a successful sports program.