National athletics open starts

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Open-Invitational Athletics Championship returns to the local sporting scene after a five-year absence today at San Luis Sports Complex in Sta. Cruz, Laguna with athletics chief Philip Ella Juico vowing to hold the talent-discovery program as an annual affair.

Over 1,500 local participants have signed up for the four-day meet along with a competitive group of athletes from neighboring Asian countries.

“Our athletes will use the open as training ground for the SEA (Southeast Asian) Games,” said Juico.

Among those expected to compete are long jumpers Henry Dagmil and Marestella Torres, runners Archand Christian Bagsit, Isidro Del Prado Jr., Edgardo Alejan Jr., and Julius Nierras, hurdler Eric Cray, Christopher Ulboc (steeplechase) and decathlete Jesson Ramil Cid.

Patafa secretary general Renato Unso said around 20 foreigners with Filipino roots are also entered, led by Caleb Stuart (hammer and shot put) from University of California-Riverside.

The Patafa has already forwarded a list of 34 athletes—22 male and 12 female—to the POC for accreditation to the Singapore SEA Games on June 5 to 16.