PH Athletics Championships: Fuentes makes winning long jump comeback

MANILA, Philippines – Life gives us second chances and Julian Fuentes is the latest beneficiary.

Dropped from the national team in September 2017 due to declining performance, Fuentes was helping his wife in their canteen in Divisoria when national coach Sean Guevara sought him out and convinced him to restart his track and field career. 

Guevara’s motivation paid off as Fuentes won the long jump with a personal best of  7.71 meters at the Ayala Philippine Athletics Championships in Ilagan, Isabela on Thursday, May 31. It was doubly fulfilling Fuentes as he is from Cordon, Isabela.

Though Fuentes missed qualifying for the Asian Games in Indonesia by 13 centimeters, Guevara is jubilant. “Our goal was only 7.50 meters. I didn’t press him to go further. Hopefully, we can use this to improve further,” said Guevara in a phone interview.

Guevara, who holds the national record in the high jump, said he sought out Fuentes because a talent like him shouldn’t go to waste. 

But he talked to some friends who will help Fuentes’ comeback and sought the permission of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association ( PATAFA) to handle him

“Some persons agreed to help me and a monthly allowance of P10,000 was given to him for around two months before he was reinstated in the Philippine team,” said Guevara.

Fuentes’ comeback overshadowed the failure of veterans Ryan Bigyan and Caido to make the  finals of the 400 meters, where two Sri Lankans are tipped to win in Friday’s finals.

With top 400m man Eduardo Alejan Jr sick and Archand Bagsit competing in the 200m, ably picking up the slack were Raymond Alferos, who had the 3rd best time of 48.08, a personal best, and Jose Rizal University ace Frederick Ramirez, 4th best with 48.39. 

Richard Salano of Army trounced many-time Southeast Asian Games champ Christopher Ulboc in the 3,000m steeplechase.  – Rappler.com