Ever dream of competing against Olympians Elma Muros or Roy Vence? Sea Games gold medalists Renato Unso, Erlinda Lavandia or John Lozada? Well, they maybe past their primes but these athletes are still a force to reckon with, at least in their age groups. Well, some local runners' dream will soon come true when the Visayas leg of the National Masters Athletics Invitational Championship fires off on August 10-11 at the Cebu City Sports Center. The competition will be for former Olympians. Sea Games veterans or ordinary running buffs 35 years and above. There will be 10 track events namely 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m,5000m, 10,000m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay and 5,000m walk. The field events are high jump, long jump, triple jump, pole vault, shot put, discus, javelin and hammer throw. For a while we thought of doing away with the pole vault and high jump but some Manila athletes insisted we include these events. As tournament director, I'll probably grant their wish but only until age group 40-44. "Basin mabalian ang mga fifty plus, lisod na".
Registration starts
Registration is now ongoing at the Phil Sports Commission (PSC) office at the Cebu City Sports Center, with forms also available at Runnr Ayala c/o Raffy Osumo. Entry fees are as follows, for the first event, it is Php 250, then it's Php 100.00 for the second to fourth events. (we are limiting indiviual entries to a maximum four events.) Last March, a hastily-formed Cebu City team pull the rug from under the more experienced Luzon runners to emerge over-all champions. Some of Cebuano athletes who are raring to go are Ireneo Illut, Jun Alfaro, Marcela Bangot, Relly Mercado, Mendrica Bismanos, Merlita Arias, Alex Solomon, Edward Beronia, Honorato Corpin, Dr. Abe Manlawe, Ruth Banzon. Of course our team that competed in Manila will be around and these include 77-year-old Rening Ylaya, Nemie and Tess Escasinas, Al Geyrozaga, Osumo and yours truly.