FilAms among athletes to compete in PHL athletics tourney in Isabela

I A A CI , Isa ela ore than 1,000 athletes, including several Filipino Americans, from all over the country and across Asia will compete in the National Open Athletics Championships scheduled from March 21 to 26 at the Ilagan Sports Complex in Isabela.

he tourna ent ill serve as the final qualifying stage for athletes vying for slots in the national team going to the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Cambodia in May.

he ational pen is highly anticipated because the current members of the national team, including Fil-heritage athletes, will be up against the best local talents and those from Asia. Athletes from the national training pool, collegiate leagues and standouts from the Palarong Pambansa and Batang Pinoy are also joining,” said Philippine Athletics rac and ield Association PA A A secretary general Edward Kho during the formal launching of the event at the ia ond otel in anila hey are ilipino-A ericans ric Cray (gold, 400m hurdles), William Morrison III (gold, shot put; bronze, discus throw), Kayla Richardson (gold, 100m; bronze, 200m), Kyla Richardson (silver, 200m), Robyn Brown (bronze, 400m hurdles), and homegrown Clinton Kingsley Bautista (gold, 110m hurdles , oc et delos antos silver, pole vault), Janry Ubas (silver, long u p ron e, decathlon , Aries oledo silver, decathlon , ar arry iones silver, triple u p , Christine allasgo (silver, marathon), Sarah Dequinan (silver, heptathlon), Jelly Dianne Paragile (bronze, 100m hurdles), Joida Gagnao

Also present were Cel Logistics, Inc. assistant vice president Anton Capistrano and executive vice president Fernando Juan Perez; Philippine Racing Co ission and PA A A consultant Reli de Leon; Nestle Philippines, Inc. assistant vice president for Milo Sports Carlo a pan and PA A A national training director Renato Unso.

Kho said athletes from Malaysia, ietna , hailand, Chinese aipei, ri an a and Ira have already confi r ed their participation in the tournament hich o ers points in the orld Athletics rankings.

Except for world No. pole vaulter EJ Obiena, all medalists at the 2022 ietna A a es are oining the National Open.

(bronze, 3000m steeplechase), Evalyn Palabrica (bronze, javelin throw), Alfrence Braza (bronze, 1500m), Melvin Calano (bronze, javelin throw), Sonny Wagdos (5000m); and Edgardo Aljean, Bernalyn Bejoy, Joyme Sequita and Jessel Lumapas (bronze, 4x400m mixed relay).

Fil-Ams Alyana Nicolas (pole vault) and Umajesty Williams (200m and 400m) are also competing in the tournament to be held in Ilagan City for the fourth time. Isabela’s provincial capital also played host fro to

Meanwhile, national team head coach o o Posadas said PA A A ill hold an initial performance trial from Feb. 28 to March at the PhilSports Stadium in Pasig City. (Jean Malanum)