National Open unfurls

ILAGAN CITY — The blazing summer heat is expected to burn further with topnotch competition as the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships unfurls at the Ilagan Sports Complex on Wednesday, March 22, here.

Kicking off the action in what is expected to be a five-day battle of the top Filipino and Southeast Asian talents from Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and Indonesia is the discus throw women’s open elite at 7 a.m which will also happen simultaneously with the finals of the shot put girls under-18 event and the men’s under-20 long jump.

Expected to take the spotlight in the discus throw are six-time national champion Narcissa Atienza and former Palarong Pambansa winner and fast-rising talent Aira Teodosio.

The javelin throw finals also happens at 9:30 a.m. while heptathlon also scheduled on the opening day with national team members Sarah Dequinan and Josefa Ligmayo leading the participants in the women 100-meter hurdles before the high jump and shot put events follow suit later in the day.