BATANG Pinoy standout Pi Durden Wangkay is gaining the confidence he needs to become one of the fastest runners in the coming 2025 Palarong Pambansa in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.
The 16-year-old Wangkay came up with his best times in the recent Asian Under-18 Athletics Championships in Saudi Arabia and the National Open.
Wangkay, a second-generation athlete following the footsteps of his coach and mom Jonah Genilza-Wangkay, will be seeking podium finishes when he sees action at the oval of the Ferdinand Marcos Stadium, the main venue of the games.
The last time he competed in the Palaro in Cebu, Wangkay never won a single medal in his stints in the secondary boys’ 100-meter and 200-meter sprints.
With her mom handling his training, Pi won three gold medals in his next major events.
Pi, who will represent the National Capital Region, shattered the boys’ under-16, 100-meter record as he clocked 10.88 seconds during the Batang Pinoy in Puerto Princesa.
After this, Pi took the gold medal at the National Open’s under-18 event in 10.91 seconds, along with the 200-meter mint in 22.2 seconds.
Pi also came up with a lower time of 10.83 seconds during the 6th Asian Under-18 Championships in Saudi Arabia last April.
Entered in the 100-meters, the 200-meters, the 400-meters events, plus the relays, Pi believes that he can take his act to a higher level.
“Pinaghahandaan ko po nang mabuti ang bawa’t event na sinasalihan ko. Sakto lang po ang training para hindi mabugbog ang katawan ko,” said Wangkay, a student-athlete from De La Salle-Zobel.
Pi is now within range of breaking two Palaro records in the 200-meter run, set at 21.8 seconds back in 2018 by Jomar Udtohan, and the 100-meter mark of Veruel Verdadero (10.55) seconds.
Meanwhile, organizers recently paid a tribute to Teófilo Yldefonso, the country’s first Olympic medalist and an Ilocano native of Piddig, Ilocos Norte.
His silhouette is now on display at the Marcos stadium. It was drawn from his Olympic breaststroke pose, off a design done by Jeanette Rico, a traditional Inabel weaver from Paoay.
