Halos isang libong atleta mula sa Pilipinas at iba pang bansa ang sasabak sa ICTSI Philippine Athletic Championships na nakatakdang idaos simula ngayong Martes hanggang Hunyo 14 sa New Clark City (NCC) Athletics Stadium sa Capas, Tarlac.
May kabuuang 870 atleta ang Pilipinas, kabilang ang mga nasa national pool at mga kumakatawan sa iba’t ibang lokal na club.
Pangungunahan ng mga overseas-based Filipinos Kristina Knott at Lauren Hoffman ang Philippine team.
Lumaban sa Olympics sina Knott (Tokyo 2021) at Hoffman (Paris 2024).
Makikilahok din sina 33rd Thailand Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) double silver medalist Yacine Guermali, pole vault bronze medalist Elijah Cole at women’s 200-meter bronze medalist Zion Corrales Nelson.
“So far, we already have 945 registered athletes for the competition and we could hit 1,000 once the complete list is in,” Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) secretary general Jasper Tanhueco.
Ang South Korea ang may pinakamalaking delegasyon sa mga bisita na binubuo ng 15 atleta, kabilang ang apat sa men’s Open division at isa sa women’s Open division, habang ang iba ay sasabak sa Under-18 at Under-20 categories.
Ang mga bansang nagkumpirma rin ng kanilang paglahok sa trackfest na mas kilala bilang National Open ay Chinese-Taipei, Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Samoa at Estados Unidos.
Magpapadala ang Papua New Guinea ng 12 atleta, habang tig-10 ang Indonesia at Singapore.
“The ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championship is more than just a premier showcase of talent, it is a vital ecosystem for the growth of Philippine track and field,” dagdag ni PATAFA president Terry Capistrano.
“Gathering our nation’s finest athletes alongside international contenders at a world-class venue like New Clark City raises the competitive bar for everyone.”
Ang paligsahan ay pinagtulungan ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) at New Clark City.
“The PSC is fully behind the PATAFA and the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championship. We are also deeply grateful to BCDA president Joshua Bingcang for ensuring these world-class facilities are ready for our athletes,” ani PSC Chair Patrick Gregorio.
“Hosting an event of this caliber at New Clark City perfectly aligns with our vision to position the country as a premium sports tourism destination. When government agencies, national sports associations, and dedicated private partners unite, we create a premier stage where our national athletes can truly thrive and inspire the nation.”
Ito ang ikalawang sunod na taon na idinaraos ang ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships sa World Athletics-certified NCC Athletics Stadium, na unang binuksan para sa track and field events ng 30th Philippine SEA Games noong 2019.
Dahil sa world-class na pamantayan ng pasilidad, magsisilbi rin ang kompetisyon bilang qualifying event para sa 20th Asian Games na nakatakdang idaos Setyembre 19 hanggang Oktubre 4 sa Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
“This championship provides a crucial platform for our elite athletes to sharpen their form, while simultaneously opening doors for grassroots discoveries to step into the spotlight and prove they belong on the big stage,” ani Capistrano.