Lara Jane and Dino

Don't look now but a 16-year old Cebuano is currently making waves in New Jersey, USA. Lara Jane Que who will be a junior at Ridgewood High School come September clocked 14:6 in the 100 meter hurdles in the Bergen County, New Jersey Track and Field Championship recently to break her own mark of 14:7, she registered weeks earlier in Ridgewood. Her feat shattered the school record of 15:0 set by Sheryl van de Schuff in 1988. Lara is presently in Cebu City on vacation, but instead of taking it easy she still goes to the track oval to continue her workouts. University of Cebu athletics coach Precing Capangpangan handles her training here. For a teenager she should be partying and malling, but not for Lara. Now that all the older girls in her school have graduated she's heralded as the new track princess this year. Born to Filipinos Eulogio Que of Negros Oriental and June Delgado, a pediatrician from Cebu City, Lara moved to the United States together with her parents when she was 3 years old. Asked if she's willing to compete for the national team, Lara said she'll be glad to do so but it should be during the summer when she's out of school. Her current record of 14:6 is a far cry from Cebu's Roselle Paculaba's mark of over 15 seconds. With her attitude and dedication it won't be long before she reaches her goal. Who knows Lara might even get to compete in the Olympics. Ato ni bai!

Dino Cardines

In the 1993 Nike Pharmaton 10K Classic, a skinny kid skipped the water stations in order to catch then Cebu's top runner Toto Cañete who was leading the race. His move proved disastrous as he collapsed just a few meters to the finish line due to dehydration. He landed in the hospital and vowed never to run again. I had to expalin to him that champions are not made overnight but that he has the potential to become one in the near future. After a few months he was back on the road and the following year I brought him to Cagayan de Oro to compete in the MILO Marathon Elimination Leg for Mindanao. I also gave him a "World Runners" singlet to wear just for luck. A virtual unknown he was never given a Chinaman's chance to win but he surprised the field when he ruled the race. Soon he was trading strides with the likes of former national marathon record holder Herman Suizo, PAL Manila Marathon back-to-back champion Rey Antoque and five-time MILO Marathon king Roy Vence. He was later taken in as a member of a national training pool that was based in Baguio City. He competed in international events and was sent to China for exposure clocking an unofficial time of 30 minutes 20 seconds in the 10K. Nine years ago he joined the RP Team composed mostly of army men that competed in a cross-country event in Florida, USA. Some members of the team including this guy never returned to the Phlippines. He hooked up with several Pinoy runners who were in the US for quite sometime. Some of these are Primo Ramos, Weng Monton, Teddy Danoy and Nene Pellosis who are all based in New Jersey. Just the other week this former runner returned to Cebu City for a short vacation he is now a green card holder, some 15 lbs. Heavier and of course enjoying the "good things" America has to offer. His name is Segundino Cardines who is now second to none. Welcome home buddy.