NATIONAL team mainstay Frederick Ramirez carried the fight for homegrown talents as he captured the gold medal in the men’s 400m in the 2024 ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships at the Philsports Track and Field Oval in Pasig.

Ramirez, a bronze medalist in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, outsteadied foreign bet Kailen Perry and compatriot Michael Carlo del Prado in a tight duel under sweltering heat.

Ramirez clocked 46.81 against Perry’s 47.50 and Del Prado’s 47.54 seconds.

“I would like to express my gratitude first to God, and to all the people who helped me in success,” said Ramirez.

“Lord, thank you for the strength and power that you gave. I know that there are lots of challenges and it’s not easy but thankfully I made it,” he added.

“Alam ko na marami akong pagsubok sa buhay at minsan nawawalan na ako ng pag-asa dahil marami na akong breakdowns na pinagdaanan. Nagpapasalamt ako sa JRU coaches who pushed me to be better and to do things na magiging proud ako sa sarili ko. Hinding hindi ako magsasawang magpasalamat sa mga coaches ko sina George Posadas, Elma Muros-Posadas, Bato Abangan, Ace Ronx, Julius Nierras, Melbert Diones and my manager Jun Basas Esturco.”

Ramirez recorded a personal-best time of 46.53 in finishing fifth in the Asian Championships and securing the fourth spot in the all-time list of top Filipino 400m runners behind only two-time Asian champion Isidro Del Prado, 2017 SEA Games 400m Champion Trenten Beram, and Fil-Heritage athlete Umajesty Williams.

Meanwhile, Jamela De Asis of the University of Santo Tomas completed her return to the national team by winning the gold medal in the women’s shot put open on Day 2 of the tournament.

The 22-year-old De Asis represented the country in the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games before being cut from the lineup due to failure to meet the national standard.

Jamela Jing Xuan Ng of Sarawak Sukma, Malaysia came in second to De Asis with a throw of 10.78 meters.

Mary Jean Maloloy-on of Far Eastern University placed third.

Vincent Dela Cruz from the University of the East also won the gold medal in the men’s 10,000-meter walk.

The event is supported by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc Foundation (ICTSI Foundation), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), MILO Philippines, CEL Logistics Inc., Pocari Sweat, SIP Purified Water, Wireless Link Technologies Inc. (WLTI), United Auctioneers Inc, Masi Sports, Victory Ines, AAI Worldwide Logistics, and FilAm Sports.