Panaad 'side venues' stymie Phl athletes

BACOLOD CITY  ,Philippines – Other than a loss via disqualification in dragonboat, the national athletes have more or less lived up to their billing as they topped their respective events in the POC-PSC National Games in various venues here.

Narcisa Atienza (women’s high jump) and Rosie Villarito (women’s shot put) got their expected places at the medal podium, but they fell short of the Phl records due to what they felt were “unfamiliar grounds” at the Panaad Stadium.

The field events are being played on two areas at the side of the oval as authorities would want to “preserve” the condition of the Panaad pitch for future football games featuring the Azkals.

Representing Laguna, the 31-year-old Atienza leapt 1.75 meters on her first attempt, beating lone opponent Mariz Cotoner of Baguio (1.45m), but tried in vain to clear the bar at a possible new mark of 1.82m.

“Nag-try ako na i-break yung Phl record ko na 1.81 (m), pero may problema ako sa runway, yung approach, lubak-lubak tapos semento lang na nilagyan ng rubber, hindi siya pantay-pantay (I had problems with the runway, which was a cement ground topped by tartan and littered with potholes and uneven),” said Atienza.

Like her, Villarito wasn’t comfortable in heaving the shotput on the “new” field. “Natakot ako na madulas (I was afraid I might slip),” said Villarito, who hurled the iron ball to 11.26 m to beat Monaliza Mendez of Bulacan State U (10.23m) and Hanna Erika Sia of Baguio (9.65m).

Phl coach Joseph Sy said considering the site of the jump and throwing events, the coaching staff is not asking for too much from the tracksters.

photo shows Katherine Costan of Negros Occidental (second from right) make her move en route to topping the 100m women hurdles semifinal at the Panaad track oval. JOEY MENDOZA

“Sa amin, kahit hindi nila ma-break ang record as long as ma-defend nila yung title at hindi sila ma-injure (It’s okay if they won’t break records for as long as they win the gold and not get injured),” Sy said.

Panaad administrator Ian de Ramos admitted that the shot put, javelin and hammer throw events were relocated from the field and that only discus throw would be played there.

“PSC ang nag-decide kung saan ilalagay ang mga events, sila nga ang nagpagawa ng bagong shotput area to lessen damage sa field (It was the decision of the organizers to build a new shotput area so as not to damage the field),” he said.

Track and field’s prodigal daughter, Jho-Ann Banayag, marked her comeback with a runaway triumph in women’s 10,000m. Banayag, who was suspended last year for defying PATAFA’s order against participating in a marathon so close to the Asian Games, clocked 37:44.30 to beat fellow Laguna bet Aileen Tolentino (40:59.00) and Capiz’s Cerila Cortil (41:42.90).

Bacolod’s Maika de Oro, who recently graduated from the Palarong Pambansa with two gold medals, ruled the field in girls’ discus throw. De Oro, who swept discus throw mints in her four Palaro stints and still owns that meet’s mark, made a 37.36m heave to dispose of Twinkle Marasigan’s 31.73m and Florence Tepstra’s 30.81m.

Over at the Bago River in Bago City, the Phl team reigned in the men’s and women’s 10-man 500m competitions but got DQ’d in the men’s 20-man crew 500m, which was won by Boracay Guardians.

The Phl paddlers (2:19’22) actually finished ahead of Boracay Guardians (2:22’31) and Philippine Navy Fleet Marine (2:28’71) but their performance was nullified due to technicality.

Choppy waters led to the Phl’s dragonboat’s encroachment into another racing lane, and they later got hit by Boracay’s boat, throwing steerman Arnold Laureno overboard. Without Laureno, a new member of the dragonboat team, the nationals reached the finish line undermanned, which was also a ground for disqualification, according to Philippine Canoe-Kayak Federation secretary general Jonnie Go.

The PNG is presented by Smart and P&G in partnership with Scratch it! Instant Tama Go for Gold and Summit Mineral Water and supported by Accel, Zest Air, Gatorade, Negros Navigation, Standard Insurance, Bodivance, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Super Ferry, ABS-CBN, Province of Negros Occidental, City of Bago, City of Bacolod, Lungsod ng Silay, City of Talisay and The Philippine STAR.