Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Elma Muros-Posadas can readily spot extraordinary talent when she sees one.
No wonder 14-year-old Tara Borlain easily caught the attention of the Philippine track and field great during the recent Batang Pinoy Luzon qualifying leg in Vigan City.
Muros-Posadas was particularly impressed with Borlain’s two-minute and 15.49-second clocking in the girls 13-15 800m that proved faster than the current Palarong Pambansa and Batang Pinoy records.
“Elma asked for Tara’s profile so she can recommend the athlete to PSC chairman Butch Ramirez and include her in the national pool,’’ said national team coach Jojo Posadas, Elma’s husband.
Angelica de Josef of Aklan holds the existing Palaro record of 2:17.2 in the girls 800m set during the 2013 Games in Dumaguete City while Feiza Lenton of Leyte owns the Batang Pinoy mark of 2:19.56 achieved in 2014.
Borlain, who also won the girls 3000m run, is a triathlete and three-time Ironkids titlist.
The ninth grader from St. Paul-Pasig is just a few ticksaway from reaching the country’s junior record established by 17-year-old Serenata Saluan in 1992 Ched Games (2:09.9 hand time) and in the UAAP on the same year (2:10.08 electronic time).
Filipino-American Jessica Barnard holds the national record of 2:06.75 done in the United States last year.
“She (Borlain) has the potential. All she needs is proper training and support,” said Posadas.
Hired by the Philippine Sports Commission as talent scout in athletics, Muros-Posadas was about the same age when the two-time Olympian and Asian Games long jump bronze medalist got discovered for the national team.
“Elma was 13 years old when she was spotted by Project Gintong Alay chief Michael Keon and let her compete in the 1981 SEA Games where she finished fourth,” said Posadas.
“Elma won the gold in the next SEA Games in 1983.”