MANILA: The three sport stars — long jumper Marestella Torres-Sunang, sprinter Eric Cray and Filipino marathon queen Mary Joy Tabal — are all ready to make big strides in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
“Sa kundisyon ko ngayon, goal kong makapasok sa finals. Hindi ko na tinitingnan ang distance,” The Standard quoted Torres-Sunang as saying during a sendoff ceremony at the Orchid Gardens Suite in Vito Cruz, Manila, organized by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association and their supporters.
She achieved the Olympic qualifying mark of 6.71 meters when she brought home the gold in the 2016 Kazakhstan National Open recently in Almaty, the report said.
In her preparations for Rio, the 35-year old Torres-Sunang reportedly said she has incorporated the use of meditation through yoga into her training program. This, Torres-Sunang added, helps give her more flexibility and avoid injuries when she trains with her coach Joebert Delicano.
Cray is busy trying to stay in shape with his coach Devian Clarke. “I just go in and train. We are going to a higher distance so I can deal with the buildup and make sure that I am healthy going to Rio,” Cray reportedly said following a long distance Skype call in El Paso, Texas, where he is based.
Cray, a double gold medalist and double games record setter in the 100-meter dash and in the 400-meter hurdles in the recent Southeast Asian Games, will see action in the 400-meter hurdles in Rio, said the news portal.
Tabal, who is personally trained by Philip John Duenas in Cebu, reportedly made the cut when she reached the finish line in the Ottawa Marathon in 2:43.29, which was faster than the Olympic standard of 2:45.
“I am preparing for the route and the weather. We train inside the school with a combination of uphill, downhill and rough road per loop,” Tabal was quoted as saying in the report.
She is currently in Japan training at the Nippon Sports Science University under renowned mentor Akio Usami.
American businessman-sportsman Jim Laffery, who has started an Adopt-an-Olympian program is currently supporting the preparations of both Torres-Sunang and Cray. Cebu-based businessman Jonel Borromeo is helping out Tabal through his company Motor Ace Philippines-Kawasaki, reported The Standard.
