By Peter Atencio
CAPAS, Tarlac – University of the Philippine’ Juliana Talaro braved the scorching early morning heat as she defeated University of Santo Tomas standout Azeneth Serat and schoolmate Mary Julianne Bayola to earn the first gold medal in the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium here.
Talaro’s grit and resilience finally paid off as her rivals began slowing down in the first part of the race as she finally got her chance to cross the finish line ahead of Serat to win the women’s 10,000-meter walk crown, in the athletics tournament, also known as the National Open.
The 22-year-old Talaro said the hot weather got the best of her early on, but she stuck it out with a four-woman group and finally got past Serat in the last 800-meters to retain the title for the third time.
“Sabi ko sarili ko, sa last five laps, ayaw ko nang bumitaw. Pero nilapitan ko siya (Serat), kahit 50-meters lang. Tapos naka-recover ako,” said Talaro, a physical education student, who came in with a time of 55 minutes and 57.21 seconds.
Talaro got an opportunity to finally overtake Serat in the last 200-meters. Serat settled for the silver in 56:51.95.
Bayola, who initially led a four-woman pack which included Talaro and Serat in the first eight laps, settled for fourth behind University of the East’s Sep Placido (57:59.90), who took third in this four-day trackfest backed by the ICTSI Foundation, Inc., CEL Logistics, United Auctioneers Inc., Milo Philippines and Pocari Sweat.
Muntinlupa’s Wenniel Simba snatched the men’s Under-18 5,000-meter walk title from teammate Rain Mabalin, after submitting a time of 27.27.04.
The 17-year-old Mabalin, who qualified for the Palarong Pambansa national finals in Laoag City, took second in 27:29.95, and relinquished the crown he won last year, in this meet that is also supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Clark Water and Masiv Sports.
Binan’s Jaycee Reyes (27:52.94) placed a distant third behind Simba and Mabalin, who are among the new faces being considered to be part of the national pool.
Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Terry Capistrano said that they are seeing new talents in the tournament.
Capistrano observed that new faces have emerged in the race walk events, and their competitive spirit, and the depth of talent that they are seeing, has made them candidates for the national pool.
“There are more young faces that are coming up. These have to be the outcome of the many things that the organization is doing to get them to compete for the country and be in the national pool,” said Capistrano.
Paris Olympian Lauren Hoffman and former Asian champion Robyn Brown topped their respective heats in the afternoon in the women’s 400-meter hurdles, with Brown coming clocking a faster time of 59 seconds, going into the evening finals.
Hoffman, who is in her second competition since recovering from an achilles heel injury, checked in at 1:01.05.
