Fil-Am sprinter, decathlete kick off Philippines campaign

JAKARTA – Fil-Am sprinter Kristina Marie Knott, long jumper Janry Ubas and decathlete Aries Toledo kick off 13-strong Philippine athletics team’s campaign in the 18th Asian Games today, hoping to spring a surprise in a bid to end a long 24-year medal drought in the quadrennial continental meet.

Toledo, a SEA Games champ, vies in three decathlon events in the morning before Knott, from the University of Miami, makes her debut with Team Phl in the afternoon session, confident of making the final in the century dash.

The athletics competitions are spread over six days starting today at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex, with the Philippine bets to face world-class athletes from East Asia led by the Chinese, the Koreans and the Japanese.

The Filipino tracksters went home empty handed last time in Incheon but this year’s squad, led by Olympian and reigning Asian 400-meter hurdles king Eric Cray and armed with better preparations, looks forward to bringing back glory for the country in the Asiad.

“This is a moving target but one thing’s sure, I’ve been assured by the coaches that they will improve on their personal bests and I’m hoping their personal bests can result in a podium finish or at least a fighting chance for a podium finish since we’re also preparing for the Southeast Asian Games in 2019,” athletics president Philip Ella Juico said.

Pole vaulter EJ Obiena, sprinter Eric Cray and  the men’s relay team could well be the Philippines’ best bets for a podium finish. They launch their bid in the last half of the competitions.

The Philippines last won a medal – a bronze – in the Asiad in 1994 but has been without a gold since Lydia de Vega’s reign as Asia’s Sprint Queen from 1982 to 1986.

“We’re hoping for the best as usual,” said Juico, keeping his cards close to his chest given the super strong field in the Asiad.

“I’m willing to make a projection for the SEA Games next year,” he added, smiling.

But Juico doesn’t rule out a surprise from any of their athletes.

“EJ (Obiena) won the bronze in the last Asian championships. He could have won the gold in the SEAG (in Kuala Lumpur) if not suffering an ACL injury,” said Juico.

Jeanette Obiena, a PATAFA official, said her son has been doing 5.60 as of late which is close to the Asian Games record.

“But there’s a Korean doing a 5.70. So it’s very close. We’re keeping our fingers crossed,” EJ’s mom.

 “Eric Cray remains a threat being a gold medal winner in the Asian championship. He’s also a medalist in AIMAG, and he’s been performing well. The others can spring a surprise,” said Juico.

“We have a strong relay team that beat Korea in Vietnam (Asian championships). Individually, the Koreans finished first, second and fourth, but we beat them in the relay for gold. So it’s a matter of teamwork, in passing the baton,” Juico also said.

“If everything goes right – the timing and everything, then we can surprise them,” Juico added.

Forming the Phl relay team are Cray, Trenten Anthony Beram, Anfernee Lopena and Clinton Bautista.

Veteran long jump campaigner Marestella Torres Sunang, SEAG marathon champ Mary Joy Tabal, and tracksters Mark Harry Diones and Francis Medina are also on the team.

Torres was the best Filipino performer in athletics in the 2010 Guangzhou Games, finishing fourth in her event.  

To help the Asiad bets whip into top shape and prepare better for the campaign, Juico said the Patafa has expanded the team’s support system, which now includes Italian strength and conditioning coach Carlo Buzzichelli, sports psychologist Naira Orbeta, nutritionist Sanirose Orbeta, American sprint and hurdles coach Roshan Griffin and local mentors.

“From zero last time, we have nowhere to go but up,” said Juico.”We prepared them, given them the best we could under the circumstances, sacrificed a lot and now it’s up to them to deliver.” – With report from Olmin Leyba