PARIS Olympians Lauren Hoffman and John Cabang-Tolentino will be put to the test as they compete the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships 2025 scheduled from May 1-4 at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

Reli de Leon, special assistant to Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Terry Capistrano, said the two prominent Filipino athletes will be among the 800 athletes seeing action in the prestigious event that will also feature top athletesfrom Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, India, and Papua New Guinea.

The event will also serve as the basis for the selection of the national team to the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December.

“The ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships 2025 serves as the basis for the selection of our national team to the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December, so we expect the best performances from them,”said De Leon during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at theRizal Memorial Sports Complex in Vito Cruz, Manila last Tuesday.

De Leon, who was accompanied by national coaches Dario de Rosas and Jeoffrey Chua at the forum, shared that the country’s best under-18 athletes will also compete, aiming to secure spots for the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain this October.

“That’s why everybody is excited for this event. Even our national athletes and Paris Olympians Jan Tolentino Cabang and Lauren Hoffman are excited,” said De Rosas ahead of the Category B event under World Athletics.

Chua claimed that the foreign competitors are expected to do their best, as valuable points are up for grabs in their pursuit of qualifying for the World Championships in Japan this September.

“Olympic atmosphere ang venue and unlike other venues here, meron complete warm up area for the athletes before they enter the main stadium,” added Chua during the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission. Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Smart/PLDT, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus.

“Our Olympians and Fil-foreign athletes are more excited to showcase their talents. And that’s why we expect good performances and of course new records. Our national team members will all be here because it’s a requirement,” added Chua.

“We really expect better performances kasi napakaganda ng track oval. Our athletes from the UAAP and NCAA will also compete,” he added heading to the meet supported by the ICTSI Foundation, CEL Logistics, Milo Philippines, United Auctioneers Inc., Wireless Link, Pocari Sweat Philippines, EnergyA, Masiv Sports, BCDA New Clark City, Manila Water Company, Clark Water Corp. and the Philippine Sports Commission.

The event’s competitiveness is heightened by the modern stadium, which hosted the 2019 SEA Games.

To ensure the safety of the athletes considering the intense summer heat, the competition events are scheduled from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., except for the walkathon, which will have morning sessions.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya