Another series of performance trials will be held this month to determine if there will be more qualifiers to the national athletics’ pool for the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The date for the meet is set from April 21 and 22 at the Philsports oval in Pasig, and national training director Renato Unso is upbeat that all members of the national squad can make the cut.
“There are more than 30 who have qualified. It would be better if all 50 of them made it,” said Unso.
There are now 34 pool members who have made the bronze-medal standard that the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association set for prospective entries to the national squad to the SEA Games.
This now includes all the Filipino medallists of the 2019 SEA Games. Unso said there were six additional qualifiers during the March trials.
Among the new qualifiers is men’s 4×100 meter relay specialist Anfernee Lopena, who hit the bronze medal cutoff time of 10.52 seconds, and sprinter Maureen Schrijvers.
Relay specialists Eloisa Luzon, Jessel Lumapas also made it, along with long distance specialists Richard Salano and Jerald Zabala.
Among those who made cut early on were Carter Lilly (800m), Yaccine Guermali (1500m and 5000m), Mariano Masano(1500m), Sony Wagdos (5000m), Clinton Kingsley Bautista (110 meter hurdles and Eric Cray 400 meter hurdles.
Top Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena is the latest addition to the roster, following the success of mediation talks with PATAFA officials.
The list also includes Mark Harry Diones (triple jump), William Morrison (shotput and discus), Melvin Calano (javelin),Aries Toledo and Janry Ubas (decathlon), Kristina Knott (100m and 200m).
Kayla and Kyla Richardson (100m) are in the list with Mia Guillergan (5000m), Joida Gagnao (5000m and 3000m steeplechase, Robyn Lauren Brown ( 400-meter hurdles), Christine Hallasgo (marathon).
Mary Joy Tabal (marathon) also made it with Natalie Uy (pole vault) and heptathlete Alexie Caimoso and Sarah Dequinan, Louie Agawa (1500m), John Albert Mantua (shotput), Hokett Delos Santos (pole vault), Alfrence Braza (1500 meter run) and Marestella Torres (long jump).