RANGED against the continent’s finest, the Philippines stood tall as Southeast Asia’s top‑performing nation in the 22nd Asian U20 Athletics Championships.
Ana Bhianca Espenilla and Jerico Cadag delivered the breakthrough performances with a silver and bronze medal that installed Team Philippines in 13th overall ahead of regional rivals in the premier Asian trackfest.
Espenilla, 19, unleashed a personal‑best 52.20 meters in her sixth and final shot put throw, catapulting herself to second place among 13 competitors for the biggest finish of her young career.
Cadag, 18, proved his mettle in the men’s 3000-m steeplechase final, clocking 9:35.10 to clinch bronze behind India’s Nikhil Chandrashekar (9:25.44) and Japan’s Yuu Kato (9:27.30).
With Espenilla’s silver and Cadag’s bronze, the Philippine squad supported by the Philippine Sports Commission closed the meet in resounding fashion.
Patafa Secretary General Jasper Tanhueco and Flubert Cosue oversaw the seven‑member delegation, with coaches Roselyn Hamero and Jonah Genilza guiding the athletes.
Thailand brought over 20 athletes and finished 14th overall with a lone silver, while China dominated the championships with 14 gold, 9 silver, and 2 bronze medals, followed by India’s 10‑5‑4 haul.
Espenilla will join Jeralyn Rodriguez (400 m), Naomi Cesar (800 m), and Ivan Cabanda (400-m hurdles) to the World U20 Athletics Championships in Oregon on Aug. 5 to 9.
Rodriguez, 19, punched her ticket with a 54.83‑second run in the women’s 400 m over the weekend, comfortably clearing the qualification standard.
Other Filipino tracksters who battled at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground included Sep Placido (women’s 5000-m race walk), Jecel Vivas (women’s 400-m and 10-m hurdles), Pi Wangkay (men’s 100 m), and Alfred Talplacido (men’s 400 m). TMT
