Diones posts new triple jump mark, books 2017 SEAG slot

Mark Harry Diones erased a seven-year national record in men’s triple jump with a 16.29-meter leap during the finals of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association Weekly Relays at Philsports Complex track oval on Sunday.

On his fifth attempt, the 22-year-old prized find from Libmanan, Camarines Sur, shattered the 16.12m mark of Joebert Delicano set during the 2009 Laos Southeast Asian Games.

National coach Jojo Posadas, who strictly monitors the progress of Diones, said Patafa secretary general Renato Unso and board member Janet Obiena confirmed the new record.

“The velocity of the wind was below 2.0 at that time and the feat of Diones was immediately recognized,” said Posadas.

For his achievement, Diones has cemented his spot in the Philippine track and field team to the Southeast Asian Games next year in Kuala Lumpur.

Posadas said the Jose Rizal U Criminology graduate has already hit the silver-medal standard set by the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission for national athletes aspiring to compete in the 11-country biennial meet.

Diones, discovered by former coach and long jumper Samson Calisura, missed the podium after winding up fourth in the Singapore SEA Games last year.

“When I began to train him after the 2010 Palarong Pambansa, Diones had a personal best of 14.43m. Now, he has become a gold-medal potential,” said Posadas. “We expect him to improve more before the SEA Games.”

Malaysia took the gold in 2015 Singapore (16.70m) followed by a jumper from Thailand (16.20m) and Vietnam (15.92). Diones was fourth at 15.87m.