Major athletics revamp: veterans on chop block

MANILA, Philippines—Hoping to regain lost glory in the Southeast Asian Games, the Philippine track and field team will undergo a major revamp after the holidays.

The veterans have been asked to consider retirement and give way to others to prove their worth.
Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association president Go Teng Kok said he has decided to keep only long-jump queen Marestella Torres and steeplechase specialist Rene Herrera in the national team after meeting the athletes recently.

He said he asked the veteran campaigners to retire and turn over their slots to their young and promising counterparts.

“I talked to them one by one and asked them to retire,” said Go, stressing that his coaching staff has arrived at the decision to come up with a new lineup.

“Some of them can still win medals but we want to give the young ones a chance,” added Go.

Only Torres and Herrera captured gold medals in the last SEA Games in Indonesia which was a big letdown for the usually productive squad that won nine golds in Manila in 2005, five in Thailand in 2007 and seven in Laos in 2009.

Part of the 24-man track and field lineup to the Indonesia Games were long jumper Henry Dagmil, long-distance runner Eduardo Buenavista, javelin throwers Rosie Villarito and Danilo Fresnido, marathoner Jho-an Banayag and former hammer throw king Arniel Ferrera.

Sprinter Melvin Guarte, hurdler Junrey Bano, pole vaulter Riezel Buenaventura, long jumpers Benigno Marayag, Katherine Kay Santos and shot put’s Eliezer Sunang were among the young blood who joined the team in the last SEA Games.

Go said Patafa has eight to 10 young athletes in the developmental pool waiting to take over from the veterans once they step down.

“I cannot include them in the team because the slots are limited,” said Go. “I cannot do anything if they’re (the veteran athletes) still around.”

Since members of the developmental pool are not in the payroll of the Philippine Sports Commission and Go said Patafa has been shouldering the allowances of these new athletes.