The PATAFA weekly relays spotlighted emerging Filipino athletic talent as Russel Je Ricaforte shattered a long-standing national record in the men’s discus throw. Competing at the Philsports track oval in Pasig, the 25-year-old Ateneo athlete released a discus throw measuring 54.14 meters, exceeding by over two meters the previous record set by Fidel Repizo in 1991 during the Manila Southeast Asian Games.

Ricaforte’s throw not only eclipsed Repizo’s 34-year-old mark of 52.10 meters but also surpassed the 51.89-meter performance of Thai silver medalist Kiadpradid Sisai at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia. Despite this achievement, Ricaforte remains focused on the gold-medal standard set by Malaysia’s Irfan Shamsuddin, who threw 57.83 meters in Phnom Penh two years prior.

Philippine Athletics Secretary General Jasper Tanhueco confirmed that Ricaforte’s documentation is being processed by the Philippine Sports Commission for his formal inclusion in the national team. This progress puts him in strong contention for representing the country at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games scheduled in Thailand this December.

Ricaforte will be joining a national squad that includes two-time SEA Games men’s shot put champion Willie Morrison, set to compete in the Asian Throwing Championships from August 21 to 22 in Mokpo, South Korea. The Philippine delegation will also feature women’s discus thrower Daniela Daynata, recently returned from training at the Chula Vista Elite Training Center in California, alongside javelin throwers Ana Espenilla and Evalyn Palabrica.

The PATAFA weekly relays, a cornerstone in Philippine track and field development, continue to serve as a crucial platform for nurturing athletes aspiring to represent the nation at international competitions.

In addition to domestic action, the Philippine men’s 4x100-meter relay team composed of Kharis Pantonia, Anferne Lopena, Clinton Bautista, and Ronne Malipay earned a bronze medal at the XXXIV Qosanov Memorial in Almaty, Kazakhstan, clocking a time of 41.06 seconds. Individually, Lopena placed sixth in the men’s 100-meter sprint final with a time of 10.56 seconds, while Pantonia finished fourth in the 400-meter race, posting 47.63 seconds.