OUTSIDE of pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Terry Capistrano is looking at six other track and field athletes who have a chance at qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games.
“Aside from EJ, our first Olympic qualifier, the others are Kristina Knott, Eric Cray, John Cabang, Lauren Hoffmann, Robyn Lauren Brown and Janry Ubas,” said Capistrano yesterday during a press conference coinciding with the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships at the Philsports oval in Pasig City.
He said Hoffmann and Cabang, ranked Nos. 29 and 31 in the women’s 400-meter hurdles and men’s 110-meter hurdles, respectively, are the most likely to punch tickets to Paris.
The top 40 athletes in both events at the end of the July 7 cut-off date will be eligible to compete in the quadrennial global showcase opening on July 26 in the glitzy French capital.
“Robyn, Eric and Janry also have a chance, but they need to work very hard in the other ranking meets to qualify, and we will give them all the support they need,” Capistrano said.
Once ranked No. 39, Brown, the reigning Asian women’s 400-meter champ, has slipped to No. 43 while Cray, who is eyeing a second Olympics after competing in the 2016 Rio Games, stood at No. 41.
With only 32 Olympic spots at stake, Ubas has the steepest hill to climb since he is ranked at No. 52.
Patafa Secretary General Jasper Tanhueco said all of them have to excel in the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships so they can gain more qualifying points.
Both Patafa officials noted the cost and complexity of sending athletes to Olympic qualifying competitions, with Ubas as an example.
“We are trying to get a Japanese visa for Janry so he can compete in Japan in the middle of May. We are also in the process of securing a Schengen visa for Europe where he will have three meets there, so we have to make a choice,” Tanhueco said.
