By MARK REY MONTEJO
Pole vaulter EJ Obiena will not be around due to his prior commitment but the coming 2025 ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships will still be a star-studded affair.
For one, veterans Lauren Hoffman and John Cabang Tolentino are out to use the lessons learned in the Paris Olympics last year when they banner the Philippine team in the annual event which the world-class New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac will be hosting for the first time next month.
Apart from Hoffman and Cabang, also expected to showcase their athletic prowess in the tournament which slated from May 1 to 4 are foreign-based athletes in Robyn Brown, Kristina Knott, Angel Frank and Fil-Irish and Harvard trackster Victoria Bossong.
“Actually pinaghandaan talaga nila ‘to, they prepared for it, kasi they are more excited to showcase their talents, performances, gusto nilang ipakita sa mga Pinoy ‘yong kaya nilang gawin,” said Philippine Athletics deputy coach Jeoffrey Chua.
“So ‘yong excitement is double or triple compared to last year… we’re expecting [na ‘yong crowd] is more,” Chua added during Tuesday’s PSA Forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, PLDT/Smart, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus.
Bossong, who ruled the 800-m event in her first-ever National Open appearance last year at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City, is hoping to obtain a PH passport in time for the SEA Games this December in Thailand.
Out to contend the elite Filipino bets are athletes Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, India, and Papua New Guinea although the country’s collegiate standouts are determined to make their presence felt.
Due to oppressive summer heat, events will start from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. and only walk events are set in the morning.
The event tournament also serves as a selection process for the national contingent for the October’s U18 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, and December’s Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand.
As well in September’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
“Malaki itong national championship… may puntos sila sa placing at the same time may puntos sila do’n sa performance, distance, time, kaya magandang opportunity ‘to para sa kanila,” said National track and field head coach Dario De Rosas.
