Olympic veterans carry local fight in PH Athletics
Paris Olympic hurdlers John Cabang Tolentino and Lauren Hoffman are favored to dominate their races when the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships 2025 gets off the ground next month, especially with tickets to the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand at year’s end up for grabs.
“Representing our country in the SEA Games is definitely a priority this year. I’ll give it my best shot,” Tolentino, who reset his own national record in the men’s 110 meters thrice over the past two years, said.
Big field
The Spain-based Tolentino’s latest record of 13.37 seconds came in this same event last year in May. The 23-year-old got the bronze in the 2023 SEAG held in Cambodia.
“I’m excited to be there in the national open. I’ve been working on improving my time, so I hope to become better,” said Hoffman, who owns national records in the women’s 400m and 100m hurdles plus the 400m and 600m indoor runs.
Over 800 athletes are expected to troop to the New Clark City track and field stadium in Capas, Tarlac, during the national championships organized by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) and backed by CEL Logistics from May 1 to 4, including 60 bets from six countries.
“This year’s Philippine championship is more than just a national event. It serves as a critical part of our selection process for our SEA Games team this December,” said Patafa president Terry Capistrano, whose agency will also use the event to identify the best under-18 athletes to be sent to the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain in October.
Likewise signing up for this year’s championships are Tokyo Olympics veteran sprinter Kristina Knott, SEAG long jump king Janry Ubas, Asian champion hurdler Robyn Brown, high jump record holder Leonard Grospe, middle-distance runner Hussein Loraña and SEAG shot put champion William Morrison.
