COUNTDOWN TO ATHENS
Modest aim for Gabito, Buenavista

Updated 11:27pm (Mla time) Aug 05, 2004
Inquirer News Service

Editor's Note: Published on page A26 of the August 6, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer


A BOY among men. That's Eduardo "Vertek" Buenavista when he competes against the world's top marathoners in the Athens Olympics.

Barely 4-foot-11, Buenavista will virtually disappear from view when he runs alongside a fleet of 6-footers from Africa, America, Europe and the former Soviet states in the Games' closing event on Aug. 29.

Buenavista knows his tiny steps would be no match to the gigantic strides of his rivals, so he has set a modest goal: Break his Philippine record (2 hours, 18 minutes, 44 seconds) for the 42K.

"It's going to be hard competing against the world's best in the Olympics but if I beat my own RP record, I can finish within the top 10,'' Buenavista said in Filipino while taking a break from his rigid, high-altitude training in Baguio City.

The 25-year-old Buenavista said apart from his daily training on the road and track, his preparation for his second Olympic stint includes a biweekly run from the Philippine Sports Commission facilities near Teachers' Village down to Bauang, La Union.

Buenavista said he negotiates the cross-provincial roads to La Union with fellow runner Rene Herrera in three hours, meaning the distance he normally covers is more than the standard 42.195K.

A father of a 3-year-old boy, Buenavista transplanted his family from Sto. Niño, South Cotabato, to Baguio City, where most of the Philippine tracksters are billeted.

The existing Olympic record (2:08) is achievable, according to Buenavista, but he fears runners from Africa will be breaking that mark this time as they are accustomed to the heat and humidity prevailing in Athens at this time.

In Sydney, Buenavista competed in the 3,000-meter steeplechase but was booted out in the heats.

Now, he's hoping for the best.

"It will just boil down to physical condition right on competition day,'' said Buenavista, who'll be carrying the country's colors in athletics with long jumper Lerma Bulauitan-Gabito.

Gabito qualified in the long jump competition in the Sri Lankan leg of the Asian Grand Prix this year.

Like Buenavista, Gabito is eyeing to re-write the national record which she shares with the legendary Elma Muros-Posadas.

"If I could jump 6.60 meters, I can think of retiring already,'' said the 29-year-old Gabito, who matched the Philippine mark of 6.56 m in winning the bronze during the Manila Grand Prix leg last month.

Gabito was initially listed in the 100-meter dash as part of the country's mandatory participation in the Olympic track and field competitions before qualifying in her favorite event.

"I know that I don't stand a chance there,'' she said of the 100-meter dash she competed in the Sydney Games. "In the long jump, all you need is a flash of brilliance."

For Buenavista it's tougher. He has to keep a steady pace, strain to match his opponents' long gaits and try to pull away before the final turn, where he's vulnerable in the sprint for home.

That's the only way the boy could make the men take notice

Hope for the best!

We will be cheering you!!!!!!! By the way is NBN ready to cover the event?

I have heared that NBN had still some monetary deficit and things to settle with the IOC due to unpaid obligations.

if the IOC intends to have a coverage blackout for 80 million Filipinos, they'd lose a lot of money.

I think it is 86 million.