SEVENTEEN members of the national pool, led by women’s long jumper Marestella Torres-Sunang is heading for Hong Kong to prepare for the 2017 Southeast Asian Games.
Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association secretary general Reynato Unso said they will be there for around two months.
While in Hong Kong, the aspirants will also join two international meets.
Unso said the plan materialized following recent talks between officials of the PATAFA and Hong Kong Athletics Association chairman Kuan Kee.
The PATAFA was supposed to send athletes to train in Australiam but this will no longer push through.
Torres-Sunang is the current record holder in the women’s long jump of the SEA Games. She set it at 6.71 meters in 2011.
Two newcomers, triple jumper Mark Harry Diones and 110-meter runner Michael del Prado are joining them.
The 5’11” Diones, who is coached by Jojo Posadas back in college at the Jose Rizal University, cleared 16.70-meter jump on the sixth and last try in the recent National Open.
Del Prado, who is the son of the legendary Isidro Del Prado, beat members of the national team to get the silver in 48.47 seconds in the men’s 400-meters.