FOUR up-and-coming track and field athletes, led by 32nd Cambodia Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Gennah Malapit, left the country yesterday to compete in the 21st Asian Under-20 Athletics Championships opening today in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Sent by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association in its bid to expose the younger members of its national pool to international play and joining Malapit in the four-day meet are fellow javelin thrower Ana Bhianca Espenilla, who won a gold medal in the 2023 SEA Youth Championships, and middle-distance runner Anna Eugenio.
Eugenio’s forte is the 1,500 and 3,000-meter steeplechase, according to Patafa secretary general Jasper Tanhueco.
Completing the contingent is Courtney Jewel Trangia, who won the silver medal in the men’s discus throw of the SEA Youth meet.
“These promising athletes are the future of local and track field and will be up against elite athletes from all over Asia in the Under-20 championships. We hope they will excel and exceed our expectations in their respective performances,” said Patafa president Terry Capistrano.
