The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) is set to lean more on grassroots development programs for upcoming international competitions, following the breakout performances of young sprinters Pi Durden Wangkay and Naomi Cesar at the recently concluded 3rd Asian Youth Games in Manama, Bahrain.
Sixteen-year-old Wangkay of De La Salle Zobel clocked an impressive 21.76 seconds to capture gold in the 200-meter dash-an achievement, a big boost ahead of his stint with the Philippine seniors squad in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok scheduled from December 9 to 20.
Cesar clinched silver in the girls’ 800-meter final, finishing just a second behind China’s Jinping Song, who won gold with a time of 2:07.84. Cesar’s 2:08.69 finish-her personal best-shattered her previous mark of 2:17.87 set at the 2025 Asian U18 Athletics Championships in Saudi Arabia, where she earned bronze.
The 16-year-old Cesar is also set to see action in the SEA Games and the World Athletics U20 Championships in Portland, Oregon slated for August 5 to 9, 2026.
Their sterling performances contributed to the Philippines’ overall haul of seven golds, seven silvers, and ten bronze medals at the 3rd Asian Youth Games.
‘Patafa believes we can discover more Wangkays and Cesars for next year’s competitions. We just have to maximize our grassroots,’ Patafa secretary-general Jasper Tanhueco told the BusinessMirror on Friday.
‘Young faces of Philippine athletics have arrived-and they’ve already delivered gold and silver medals in Bahrain,’ Tanhueco added. ‘They are the future of our sport, and we’re excited to see them compete on bigger stages.’
‘They’re the youngest members of our national team in this biennial meet, and we’re proud to give them the opportunity to compete at the SEA Games this December,’ Tanhueco said. ‘They’re both hardworking athletes who truly deserve their slots.’
Wangkay, who is focusing on the 100 and 200, will serve as a reserve for the 4×100-meter relay team, according to Tanhueco.
Wangkay and Cesar are also preparing to qualify for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.
‘This is about giving them exposure and experience ahead of the Youth Olympics and other junior competitions next year,’ he explained. ‘Pi and Naomi represent the bright future of Philippine athletics, and we’re committed to supporting them. We’ll find more like them soon.’