Tracksters vow to duplicate ’01 feat

Nine to 12 gold medals or more.

Members of the national coaching staff yesterday predicted that the team the Philippine Track and Field Association is forming can easily duplicate the nine gold medals the sport harvested in the last Southeast Asian Games two years ago in Kuala Lumpur in the 22nd edition of the biennial conclave this December in Vietnam.

They said all the gold medalists, except heptathlete Elma Muros-Posadas, have all made it to this year’s squad.

They were referring to long distance ace Eduardo Buenavista, winner of the 3,000 steeplechase and the 5,000 meters, John Lozada in the 800 meters, Ernie Candelario in the 400 meters, Dandy Gallenero in javelin, Fidel Gallenero in decathlon and marathoners Roy Vence and Christabel Martes.

The absence of Muros-Posadas, who retired right after the Kuala Lumpur meet, has been compensated by Buenavista, who besides competing in his favorite events, is also a cinch for a first place finish in his new event 10,000 meters.

"Buenavista is unbeatable in the steeplechase and in the 5,000 meters and the results of the last Asian Athletics Association championships, where he managed a bronze medal in the 10,000 meters ahead of his Southeast Asian rivals, is proof that he will also be a force to reckon with in this event," said coach George "Jojo" Posadas during the SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session yesterday.

"The expected third gold medal Buenavista is capable of bringing home more than made up for Elma’s absence," added coach Darius de Rosas. "Count another gold medal Lerma (Bulauitan-Gabito) is hoped to win in women’s long jump and that will already surpassed the nine gold medals we took in Kuala Lumpur."

Bulauitan-Gabito, who ruled her event in the third leg of this year’s Asian Grand Prix aside from taking a bronze in the recent 3As, showed that she is more consistent than the Vietnamese girl who beat her in the last SEA Games, noted the two coaches.

"Lerma has been doing 6.46, 6.48 and 6.50 meters this year while her Vietnamese rival was only doing in the vicinity of 6.20 to 6.30 meters in that same stretch. So ibig sabihin mas consistent si Lerma," Posadas added, justifying the coaching staff’s projection.

What could be another source of gold medals, head coach Isidro del Prado said is Sean Guevarra, who he added, is also doing well in men’s high jump, and the men’s 4x400 relay "where we can give our Thai counterparts, a run for their money."