Fil-Heritage Program

At the last SEA Games Fil-Heritage (athletes of Filipino blood), two new faces ended two very long droughts in athletic events.

Eric Cray wins the Asian title in 400 Hurdles in the pouring rain.
Photo Credit: Asian Athletics Association

Olongopo born Eric Shauwn Cray a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. Became the fourth Filipino to ever win the SEA Games title in the 400m Hurdles. He ended a gold-medal drought of 28 years restoring the historic 400m Hurdle title made popular by Renato Unso in the 80s to the Philippines.

Jess Barnard

Cebu born Jessica Lyn Barnard a graduate of Long Beach State in Los Angeles became the first filipina ever to medal in the Womens 3000m Steeples in the process jogging to a new national record of 11.04.84.

The success of Barnard, 23 and Cray, 25 brought honor to the Philippines. In 2013 we saw the emergence of a new breed of athletes both local and Fil-heritage. These fresh faces through the ranks helped fill the void left by the Athletes of the famous ‘Go Teng Kok’ army who are one by one retiring due to age.

While the contribution of Fil-Heritage athletes in athletics is nothing new. Some of the names listed below brought the sport to milestones.

Miguel White one of only two Olympic medalists in Philippines Track and Field history.

Fil-American Miguel White 400 Hurdles (1936 Olympic bronze medalist one of only two Olympic medalists in athletics). White even died fighting for the Philippines against the Japanese in World War II.

Josephine Dela Vina still holds the national record in the Junior Women’s 1965 and Women’s 1971 Discus.

Fil-Mexican Josephine Dela Vina (1966 Asian Games Champion and 1973 Asian Track and Field Champion, one of only 3 athletes to win both, and the longest serving record holder since 1965 junior record Discus and 1971 senior record in Discus). Dela Vina throws are still good enough to win the SEA Games today and they were done over 40 years ago.

Neighbors Ed Lasquette and Bruce Ventura from San Jose both medalists at sea games in pole vault and shot put

Fil-American Edward Lasquette an Olympian and three times SEA Games gold medalist from 1991 to 1995 in the Pole Vault is the most successful in recent memory.

Perona Sacrifices his 400 spots to help the Team

Fil-American Kashus Perona helped beef up the Filipino Relay squad to win the Gold in the 2005 SEA Games.

Kashus Perona also of Long Beach state helped the Philippines win the gold medal in the 4x400m in 2005, he teamed with what the arguably the greatest all-round 4×400 relay team in the countries history. He teamed with three athletes who were SEA Games 400m Champions Ernie Candelario (2001, 2003), Jimar Aing (2005) and Julius Nierras (2007). Perona could have been a SEA Games champion himself but in true sportsmanship ended up conceding the spots in the individual events to the others. Perona had actually beaten Candelario and Aing at the 400m in the 2004 National Open and had the best time of 46.21 which ranks second on the all-time lists.

Deborah Samson won silver for the Philippines in the Pole Vault in 2007 and still holds the national record.

While many Fil-Heritage athletes since have expressed interest it’s a meticulous process which requires thorough analysis making sure they can at least win a medal at SEA Games. In the past, there have been Fil-Heritage athletes who were sent and failed to bring back any medals at entry international level aka.

SEA Games level and some who gave much higher expectations than they ended up capable of.

Now Another athlete has emerged who can win an event we have never won before at SEA Games. Stay tuned more on this athlete tomorrow……………..

Fil-Heritage athletes that currently hold Phi Records

MENS

JUNIOR MEN

WOMEN’S

JUNIOR WOMENS

  • Princess Joy Griffey (60m indoors)
  • Kaya Richardson 100, 400m
  • Marisa Kwiatkowski (Triple Jump)
  • Josephine Dela Vina (discus)
Related articles
  • Fil-Am Eric Shauwn Cray delivers needed gold for PH in hurdles competition

 

Some memorable achievements from the Fil-Heritage Group in the last few years (not updated).

 

Eric Cray - SEA Games 400 Hurdles Gold Medalist (broke a 28-year drought), NR in 110 and 400 Hurdles, NIR 60m, 60 Hurdles and 200m, Asian Champs Finalist, Asian Indoor 60m 5th place, qualified for Asian Games & SEA Games 400H, National Champion 2013 110H, 2014 100m

Jessica Lyn Barnard - SEA Games 3K Steeples Bronze Medalist (first ever in this event), NR in 3000m Steeples, considering event change for SEA Games.

Princess Joy Griffey - Qualified for Asian Games & SEA Games 100 and 200m dash (silver std), National Champion 2014 100m & 200m dash.

Kayla Richardson - Qualified for World Juniors 100 and 200m dash (first Filipino athlete ever to hit IAAF std for this meet), finalist Asian youth games 100m. SEA Games silver and bronze standard in 100 and 200m.

Zion Corrales-Nelson - Qualified for World Juniors 200m and 400m dash (second Filipino athlete ever to hit IAAF std for this met), 400m National and National Junor Record (youngest athlete currently to hold a senior NR at age 15), Bronze for Philippines Asian Olympic Youth Festival 200 and 400m dash.

Tyler Ruiz - National Champion in the High Jump 2014. Played SEA Games. His best performance prior to getting phi passport is equal to the NR in this event. 2.11m so far this year. Needs 2.13 for SEA Games High Jump.

Paris Pijuan - Improved to 4.90m. Qualified and participating at the Asian Juniors. Needs 5.00m for SEA Games Pole Vault.

Donovont Ariola - has registered windy 7.54 this year. requires 7.53 for SEA Games Long Jump.

Cerah Moren - improved Javelin to 42.09m at 15 the youngest member of the Fil-Heritage group. Phi

JR Record is 45.43m.

Alyana Nicolas - 3.39m this year. 3.47m last year. Vault.

Jonelle Halog - came off injury 11.08s so far this year. 10.90s last year.

I think thats all out of the group that have passports.

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