CAPAS, Tarlac — Hussein Loraña, Jessa Mae Roda and Rica Balderama each added a second gold medal to their collection, while the national men’s 4×400-meter relay squad atoned for the setback of its 4×100-meter counterparts at the close of the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships presented by the Philippine Sports Commission on Sunday night at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium here.
As the five-day trackfest, with the ICTSI Foundation as title sponsor, wound up, Loraña, Roda and Balderama completed their respective double-gold hauls by ruling the men’s and women’s 1,500-meter runs and the women’s triple jump, respectively.
Finally deciding to race in an event he last competed in during the 2019 Batang Pinoy National Championships in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Loraña ran a calculated race before breaking away in the final 80 meters, clocking 3:49.12 to complete a golden double after his victory in the 800-meter race the previous day.
(C) PATAFA
Roda, who earlier won the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, added the women’s 1,500-meter gold to her trophy case in 4:37.01 in the championships co-presented by BCDA and New Clark City.
Joining them with two golds apiece was Balderama, who earlier ruled the long jump, leaping 12.42 meters for her second victory in the meet also sponsored by CEL Logistics Inc. and UAAGI Auto Group Inc.
Sharing the spotlight was the national men’s 4×400-meter team, led by Mico Del Prado, son of middle-distance running legend Isidro Del Prado, anchoring the squad to a commanding win in 3:13.25.
The other team members were Frederick Ramirez, Alrhyan Labita and Kharis Pantonial, all coached by the elder Del Prado, now a national coach, who proudly watched the team cruise to victory from the stands.
Triumphant at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in the men’s 4×100-meter relay the previous night, the KG Mercuries settled for silver (3:14.31), while Team España took bronze (3:18.68) in the meet also backed by Pocari Sweat, Clark Water, Masiv Sports, the apparel partner, and Cherrylume.
The La Salle-Taft quartet of Ashley Mecel Tabad, Jamaica Kate Saligan, Erica Marie Ruto and Lea Krizdea Ordinario outran two other squads to clinch the gold medal in the women’s 4×400 relay in 3:56.78.
(C) PATAFA
“I tried to sense myself after winning the 800-meter race the previous night and I was only able to get five hours of sleep due to overthinking,” Loraña, the 33rd Thailand Southeast Asian Games champion in the event, said.
“My father coach Bonifacio told me if I felt like I was capable of running the event then I should go for it. Eventually I was able to get two more hours of sleep before the early night race,” he said. “And I am so glad I did.”
Set to compete in the first Asian U-23 Athletics Championships slated July 9 to 12 in Ordos, China, he said he and his father will discuss whether he will also run the 1,500 at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan in September.
Del Prado said he was proud to lead the PH men’s 4×400-meter squad to victory, offsetting the loss of their 4×100-meter counterparts — Clinton Bautista, Labita, Pantonial and Kent Francis Jardin — who settled for bronze the previous night.
“Actually, hindi ako member ng 4×100 but grateful kami sa performance sa 4×100 kasi hindi naman sila yung original members ng 4×100. Biglaan yung assemble nung team. So proud ako sa performance nila,” he said.
“Yung team ko naman sa 4×400, happy naman ako sa performance nila. We fought a good fight. And thankful kami we finished strong and healthy for everyone,” he added.
“Parang naanino ko ang aking nakaraan,” said the elder Del Prado of his son’s performance, smiling.
However, Del Prado was dissatisfied with the quartet’s time, stressing that “it should be lower, around 3:08,” noting that the previous PH squad at the recent Singapore Open clocked 3:11.2 to capture the gold.
Together with Joyme Sequita, Umajesty Williams and Ramirez, he was a member of the PH quartet that set the national record of 3:04.89 in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in 2023.
He also lamented that due to visa issues, he will not be able to join his teammates in the 2nd Asian Relays Championships in Shangyu, China.
