CONNOR Henderson is among the many Fil-foreign athletes expected to show up in the coming 2016 Ayala Philippine National Open Invitational Athletics Championships in Ilagan, Isabela.
The 24-year-old Henderson, a Fil-Briton, will find out if he can make the grade and be part of the national pool.
He is expected to join the likes of Fil-American hammer thrower Caleb Stuart, sprinters Kayla and Kyla Richardson, Olympian Eric Cray, Fil-Canadian Zion Corrales and University of Connecticut student Trenten Berram.
Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico said the National Open from March 28 to April 2 will serve as a tryout for prospective national team members and Fil-heritage athletes are welcome to join.
“There are Fil-heritage athletes who have been emailing us, including this Fil-Briton,” said Juico.
Henderson’s best showing last season was when he clocked 49.81 seconds to place fifth in the 400-meter run in the Scottish National Under-17and senior championships.
In the Grangemouth Open, he recorded 1:56.87 in the 800-meter run.
The National Open comes before the 12th Southeast Asian Youth Athletics Championships 2017, which will also be held at the Iligan Sports Complex in Ilagan Isabela from March 27 to 28.
Here, promising youngsters like pole vaulter Francis Obiena are tipped to make their presence felt in the two-day meet, which will feature young aspirants from 10 neighboring countries.
Early this year, Obiena followed the footsteps of his older brother EJ when he broke the course record in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines meet after clearing 4.06 meters.
His presence will help the Philippines beef up its performance in the two-day meet.
Last year, the Philippines placed seventh with 1-1-1 gold-silver-bronze feat.