Rising young stars RP’s future track greats

The recent National Open track and field championships provided a glimpse of the country’s future in the sport.

Consider 17-year-old Christopher Ulboc Jr. of Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, who swept the gold medals in 1,500, 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000 meters.

Rosito Andaya, athletic coach of Far Eastern University, said Ulboc has what it takes to fill in the shoes of long-distance expert Eduardo Buenavista in the near future.

“Watch out for this kid. He’s one of the future of Philippine athletics,” said Andaya of Ulboc, who was discovered in the 2007 Palarong Pambansa in Koronadal, South Cotabato.

Andaya knows talent when he sees one, considering that he’s been coaching the FEU track team since 1967, and has handled former stars Isidro del Prado and Hector Begeo.

Teenage sensations Jose Renato Unso, Isidro del Prado Jr. and Jami Dawn Henares also made heads turn in the three-day meet.

Unso, 17, won two golds, including a record feat in 110-m hurdles while Del Prado, 17, reigned supreme in 400-m run, boosting their status as two of the most promising tracksters in the country.

Unso and Del Prado are sons of former track stars  themselves.

Henares, a 16-year-old from Bacolod City, ruled the century dash with her long, graceful strides, and certainly deserves a second look.

A couple more FEU entries, Nelbert Ducusin and Romnick Herida, shone, along with Eliezer Sunang.

Ducusin, 22, came from behind to outlast two tall, long-legged Koreans and RP team mainstay Rene Herrera for the 1,500-m gold.

Herida, 20, was equally impressive in beating RP team member Arnold Villarube in the 100-m while Sunang humbled Nixon Mas and current SEA Games hammer throw record-holder Arnel Ferrera with a win in the shot put.

Annie Albania, who provided the country’s lone boxing gold in last year’s Thailand SEA Games, was crowned queen of heptathlon.

Albania, who was with the University of the East track team before she shifted to boxing, also won the gold in javelin and a bronze in long jump.