Four of Negros Occidental's athletic standouts in the Philippine Team are bracing for the Asian Athletics Championships scheduled late this month in Irbid, Jordan.

Philippine record holders Sheena Atilano of La Carlota City and Arniel Ferrera of Cauayan will be at the forefront of the Philippine bid in the July 25-29 competition. Joining them are long jump specialist Joebert Delicano of Victorias City and female hammer thrower Loralie Amahit of Binalbagan.

Ferrera said he is looking at the meet as a gauge of his progress in training for the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Ratchasima, Thailand, where he will defend his hammer throw crown.

The Cauayan native, who holds the rank of Airman First Class, is hoping to redeem himself after a dismal performance in the Hong Kong Inter-City Meet, where his 55.88-meter effort was way off his personal best and SEA Games record of 60.47-m.

"I really want to improve on my performance because the SEA Games is just a few months away," he told the DAILY STAR last night.

Ferrera is seeking his third straight gold medal in Thailand but his training has been stalled for a few weeks last month because of the "Back-to-Basics Training", a requirement for his re-enlistment in the Air Force.

"I am more focused now and I need three months of rigid training to reach the form that I want," he added.

Ferrera said that the Philippine Sports Commission will allot members of the athletics team three international competitions, prior to the Thailand SEA Games.

Another meet calendared before the SEA Games is the Thailand Athletics Open, Ferrera said.

Gold medalists during the 2005 SEA Games were prioritized for the Jordan competition but Atilano made the roster due to her noteworthy improvement in 100-m hurdles the past few months.

The 27-year-old Atilano, who earned her Management Information Systems degree from the University of St. La Salle, obliterated Elma Muros' mark with her 13.65-second clocking in the Pune leg of the Asian Athletics Grand Prix.*CPT

back to top

Negros athletic aces brace for Asian meet
Amor, On-Baciba bowlers triumph
Dumaguete pool shark 9-ball champ
Age-group cage tourney slated