Filipina track athlete Jeralyn Rodriguez. Handout/PSC
MANILA -- Filipina teenager Jeralyn Rodriguez ran the race of her life to punch her ticket to the World U20 Athletics Championships in Oregon, Portland.
Rodriguez, 19, clocked 54.83 seconds in the women's 400m final at the 22nd Asian U20 Athletics Championships recently.
The time was well below the qualification standard of 55.20 seconds, giving Rodriguez a ticket to the worlds set for August 5-9.
"Masaya ako nakamit ko rin ang hinahabol ko na qualification sa world," said Rodriguez, who will join Naomi Cesar (women's 800m), Ivan Cabanda (men's 400m hurdles) and Bianca Espenilla (women's javelin) in the world championships.
"What we are witnessing here is the future of Asian athletics. Seeing athletes from beyond Southeast Asia perform at such an exceptional level ignites a powerful drive in our own," said Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association President Terry Capistrano.
"It compels us to train harder, prepare smarter, and rise to meet the challenge."
Rodriguez could have qualified to the world championships in last year's Southeast Asian Games, where she also hit the 55.20-second standard. However, a faulty electronic timing system denied her recognition, leaving her qualification in limbo.
"Nakapanghihinayang sa SEA Games pero inisip ko na lang na challenge ito para sa akin para lalo ko pang pag-igihan," said the athlete.
Team Philippines is still seeking for a medal at the ongoing continental U20 championships after Sep Placido (women's 5000m race walk), Jecel Vivas (women's 100m hurdles), Pi Wangkay (men's 100m) and Alfredo Talplacido (men's 400m) missed the podium.
Vivas is slated to compete in the 400m hurdles along with Espenilla in the javelin and Jerico Cadag in the 3000m steeplechase late Saturday.