Capistrano focuses on Pinoy campaign for OQT

WITH only a month left before the Olympic qualifying season begins, Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) President Terry Capistrano looks forward to Filipino national athletes rising in three upcoming overseas Olympic qualifying tournaments.

He referred to the Asian Athletics Championships on July 12 to 16 in Pattaya, Thailand, and the World Athletics Championships on August 19 to 27 in Budapest, Hungary before going to Hangzhou, China 20th Asian Games on September 23 to October 8.

These tournaments are all Olympic qualifying events since the qualification for the 2024 Paris Games begins on July 1 up to June 30 next year.

Asian No. 1 pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena, Southeast Asia’s long jump king Janry Ubas and six-time 400-m hurdle SEA Games gold medalist Eric Cray are expected to lead the country’s campaign in these tournaments as they also shoot for an Olympic berth.

“They will lead the Philippine team at the start of the Olympic qualifying season after winning their gold medals in the last Cambodia SEA Games,” Capistrano said, referring to Obiena, Ubas, and Cray who have won the gold in the biennial meet along with the men’s 4×400 relay team.

Now heading to his first year as athletics chief since taking the reign from former PATAFA president Philip Ella Juico in June 2022, Capistrano expressed his faith to the medalists and those who failed to perform in the last biennial meet.

“Those who did not do well in the last Cambodia 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh last month will have a chance to improve in the next two upcoming overseas competitions,” Capistrano said.

He expects to send within the vicinity of 20 to 25 athletes and 10 coaches and staff in the Asian Games, noting that the athletes would come from the gold and silver winners at the last SEA Games and from those who would perform well in the Asian Championships and even possibly the World Championships.

“I believe in my athletes because all of them are pursuing goals beyond the regional SEA Games and to keep improving their craft,” he said. “They are acutely aware that we do this for our country. That’s why they keep training hard.”

Capistrano had a bittersweet taste of his first biennial meet experience where his wards finished with four gold medals, 10 silvers, and eight bronze medals in Phnom Penh last month in the Cambodia 32nd Southeast Asian Games.

“It was a bittersweet experience for my first SEA Games as head of Patafa, too many photo finishes but overall I gave our campaign a passing grade of 80. We can always do better and we have to keep improving. The SEA Games is not the ultimate goal.

SEA Games silver medalist Umajesty Williams (400-m) and Sonny Montenegro Wagdos (5,000-m), women’s silver medalist Joida Gagnao (3,000-m steeplechase), Gennah Malapit (javelin throw) and Sarah Dequinan (heptathlon) will compete in the Asian Championships and Asian Games this year.

While runners like Tokyo Olympian Kristina Knott, Kayla Richardson, and thrower William Morrison among others, who didn’t perform well in the last biennial meet are hoping to pursue a comeback in the Asian Championships in July according to Capistrano.