Juico predicts 8 track golds in Singapore

Track and field association President Philip Juico is not holding back about what he believes will be a strong performance by Filipino tracksters in the Southeast Asian Games in June, saying that at least eight of them will win gold medals and five more may pull surprises and win their events.

Juico, who still has to get formal recognition as president of the association from the Philippine Olympic Committee, made the prediction in yesterday’s PSA Forum where he introduced Fil-American Caleb Stuart who surpassed the SEA Games record in hammer throw in a recent meet in the United States.

Juico is also buoyed by the association’s hiring of American coaches Bill Schnier and Dick Birdsley and the retention of Jim Lafferty as consultant.

“Right now, we’re probably looking at eight very strong possibilities, plus five or six who have 50-50 chances. And this doesn’t include Caleb,” said Juico in yesterday’s Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

Track and field has been a consistent performer in the SEA Games. Athletics won six golds in 2013, two in 2011 and seven in 2009. However, track and field athletes have not won a medal of any color in the Asian Games since 1994 when Elma Muros won a bronze in long jump.

Juico’s mission has been to get as many recruits from abroad as possible to inject new life in the sport which is one of the most important in international competitions.