Nakakuha ang pinay na si Jeralyn Rodriguez ng tiket para sa World U20 Championships matapos maabot ang qualification standard sa 22nd Asian U20 tournament sa Hong Kong noong Sabado.
Ang kasalukuyang Southeast Asia U20 champion ay nagtala ng 54.83 segundo sa women’s 400m final.
Si Aminat Kamarudeen (52.72s) ng United Arab Emirates ang nagwagi.
Ang qualification time ay 55.20.
Gaganapin ang World Championships sa Agosto 5 to 9 sa Portland, Oregon, USA.
“I’m happy I achieved what I was after, qualifying for the worlds,” sabi ng 19-anyos na si Rodriguez sa isang news release.
Ang dalawang beses na Palarong Pambansa gold medalist ay nagtala ng 55.20 segundo sa Southeast Asian Games sa Bangkok noong Disyembre 2025, ngunit hindi ito kinilala dahil sa depektibong electronic timing system.
“It’s disappointing at the SEA Games, but I just thought it was a challenge for me to try harder,” aniya.
Kasama rin sa biyahe patungong Oregon sina Naomi Cesar (women’s 800m), Ivan Cabanda (men’s 400m hurdles) at Bianca Espenilla (women’s javelin).
“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,’’ ani Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Terry Capistrano.
“It compels us to train harder, prepare smarter and rise to meet the challenge,’’ dagdag ni Capistrano.
Ang Team Philippines ay pinamumunuan ng mga coach na sina Roselyn Hamero at Jonah Genilza.
Hindi pa nakakakuha ng medalya sa continental event ang Pilipinas matapos mabigong makapasok sa podium sa mga nakaraang taon sina Sep Placido (women’s 5000m race walk), Jecel Vivas (women’s 100m hurdles), Pi Wangkay (men’s 100m) at Alfredo Talplacido (men’s 400m).
Lalahok din si Vivas sa 400m hurdles, kasama sina Espenilla sa javelin at Jerico Cadag sa 3000m steeplechase.