Long jumper Dagmil eyes eclipsing RP record

MANILA, Philippines – Knowing that the Olympics gather the strongest field of athletes in the world, Henry Dagmil will either aim to shatter the Philippine men’s long jump national record or gain additional experience as track and field action begins Saturday at the iconic Beijing National Olympic Stadium or better known as the “Bird’s Nest". Dagmil, 26, knows that his personal best will get him nowhere against a field that include reigning long jump world champion Irving Saladino of Panama and contenders Andrew of Howe of Italy and American Dwight Philips. “Malakas talaga ang field, alam naman natin yun. Mahirap sigurong manalo," said Dagmil, 26, as he hopes to see how the finest in the world do it. In the first place, the South Cotabato-native Dagmil is not supposed to compete in the Beijing Olympiad since his best of 7.99 meters failed to make the Olympic qualifying mark of 8.05 for Class B competitiors. He’s here as mandatory male athlete for the country in track and field. There are only two Filipino bets in athletics, the other being Marestella Torres, who’ll go to the field on Tuesday competing in women’s long jump as RP’s mandatory female competitor. Dagmil set his personal best of 7.99 meters during the Jim Bush Invitational meet in Southern California early this year. He will not possibly make it even if he prays to the high heavens to perform a major miracle. It’s because 42 of the 43 entries in men’s long jump boast of personal high of 8.05 or better, with Ibrahim Camejo of Cuba (8.46 meters), Louis Tsatoumas of Greece (8.44m) and Trevell Quinley of the United States (8.36 meters) foremost among them. In other words, Dagmil’s best is the worst among the listed personal high of the 43 competitors. Dagmil, who won the event in the last Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, trained for more than two months in Los Angeles, before he was sidelined by a groin injury for a few weeks as he went for the Olympic qualifying slot in a Malaysian tournament. In the said Malaysian tournament, he did only 7.55 meters in his first attempt and skipped the other two, complaining of pains in his groin. Dagmil said the groin injury has healed and he’s ready now to face the world’s finest and give his best shot. “Okay ang kundisyon. Wala na ang injury." – GMANews.TV