Katherine Santos had a bump on her return to the Southeast Asian Games as she finished second in both her long jump and 100 meter run over the weekend in Imus, Cavite.
The mother of one finished second to long jump legend Marestella Torres – Sunang, as the former Olympian bested the Baguio pride losing via comeback in December last year in Baguio during the Ayala hosted Philippine Athletics Championship.
Santos managed to leap 5.8 meters, way down her 6.1 meter effort in her hometown to beat the 41-year old Torres in Baguio and allowed her to take a slot in the Philippine squad.
“I am still with the Philippine squad, I am back after three years of absence to raise my son,” said the Baguio City High School alum.
But the Imus effort was not enough to give her an automatic slot in the SEAG this May in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Santos joined the national athletics squad at the University of Life Training Center (Ultra) where they started their bubble training last Wednesday.
“I went home to Baguio to get some stuff before I go back to training at ULTRA,” she told this writer.
“If ever I will be part of the SEAG, then there is no going home until (after the) SEAG,” she added.
The list comprising the athletics team will be submitted anytime this month
The Philippines is expected to send 875 to the 31st edition of the Games that was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Of the number 656 are athletes with 584 already in and 80 on appeal, the Philippine Olympics Committee reported.
Of the number 177 are officials that includes coaches, team managers, and or national sports association heads or representatives.
The will be 20 doctors, nurses, masseurs and physical therapists also.
The POC, however, has yet to receive a tentative list for athletics, men’s 3 x 3 and 5 x 5 basketball, as well as weightlifting and jiujitsu.
Filipino athletes will be competing in 39 of the events and will leave in two batches on May 6 and 10 to allow them to vote for the May 9 elections.
