PH tracksters gain access to modern venue

The country’s national track and field athletes have been given full access to the facilities and resources of the newly-built Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite.

The 800-hectare property houses the country’s first nine-lane oval that meets the standards of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the world governing body.

The oval is an all-weather track of balsam surface, the kind that will be used in the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia this August. At the oval’s center is a full-size football pitch of natural grass.

There’s also an Olympic-size swimming pool while soon to open is the 600-square meter Sante Fitness Lab.

“We are also looking at building an archery facility,” said Jay Teodoro, estate head of the Ayala Corporation-owned Vermosa. “There’s a lot of space to develop. We are continuing our dialogue with other sports.”

Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) chief Philip Ella Juico was joined by national athletes Marestella Torres-Sunang, Riezel Guarte, Mervin Guarte, Rosie Villarito and Eduardo Alejan during the recent unveiling of the facility.

Torres-Sunang, long jump queen, said Vermosa is a welcome respite from the crowded Philsports Complex in Pasig.

“It doesn’t help my training,” said the three-time Olympian. “Philsports is too crowded because it’s open to the public.”