Filipino tracksters aim to end Asiad medal drought–Juico

MANILA, Philippines — Elma Muros-Posadas bagged a bronze medal in the women’s long jump of the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan.

It was the last trip by a Filipino trackster on the medal podium of the multi-sport continental meet.

Athletics chief Philip Ella Juico said Tuesday they would try to end the drought when the Philippine track and field team competes in the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

“The measure of success is all about winning medals and we hope to get one or two medals,” said Juico, the new president of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa).

He’s also hoping that former Asian champion Marestella Torres be included in the delegation to the Incheon Games on Sept. 19-Oct. 4 to strengthen their bid.

For now, the 33-year-old Torres is still short of meeting the Asian Games qualifying standard of 6.37 meters.

Torres leapt 6.14 meters in the recent Vietnam Open and 6.26 meters in the Hong Kong Inter-City Athletics Championship last month.

“We’re insisting that Marestella be given leniency and leeway. Maybe we can bend the rules but not break them. Remember, she got pregnant and gave birth last January,” said Juico during the Philippine Sportswriters Association forum held at Shakey’s Malate.

“Maybe we can give her a little more time,” said Juico, adding that  of the 10 track and field entries,  Torres  remains the brightest prospect to win a medal years after she reset the women’s long jump Southeast Asian Games record of 6.71 meters  in 2011.