MANILA, Philippines—Members of the national training pool headline a stellar cast competing in the 2008 Milo National Open from May 28 to June 1 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Stadium.

Long distance specialist Mercedita Manipol, hurdlers Grace Melgar and Sarah dela Virgo, sprinter Sharon Jismundo, the 4x4 team of Jimar Aying, Jun Rey Bano, Rodrigo Tanuan and Benigno Marayad will be seeing action in the five-day meet that will also serve as a qualifying event for the Beijing Olympics.

Also competing in the International Athletic Federation-sanctioned event are jumping specialists Esmeraldo Pacheco and Teodoro Nonato and sprinters Arnold Villarube and Albert Salcedo.

The athletes are backed by TMS Shipping, headed by Terry Capistrano, who is also supporting United States-trained long jumper Henry Dagmil and national women’s 100m hurdles record-holder Sheena Atilano.

The National Open, which is expected to draw foreign bets eyeing slots to the Olympics, is also aimed at discovering new talents for the national training pool and gauge the development of the current RP Team for the next Southeast Asian Games, Go Teng Kok, president of the Philippine Amateur Athletics Federation, said. Cedelf P. Tupas