Nearly 1,000 athletes, including competitors from eight foreign nations, are set to compete in the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships presented by the Philippine Sports Commission from June 10 to 14 at the New Clark Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.
Regarded as the country’s premier track and field event and popularly known as the National Open, the tournament continues to grow into a major international athletics showcase.
“The ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championship is more than just a premier showcase of talent — it is a vital ecosystem for the growth of Philippine track and field,” said Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Terry Capistrano.
“Gathering our nation’s finest athletes alongside international contenders at a world-class venue like New Clark City raises the competitive bar for everyone,” he added.
PATAFA secretary general Jasper Tanhueco said participating countries include Chinese Taipei, Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Samoa, and the United States, with additional entries still being finalized.
“So far, we already have 945 registered athletes for the competition, and we could hit 1,000 once the complete list is in,” said Tanhueco.
South Korea will send the biggest foreign delegation with 15 athletes, including entries in the men’s and women’s Open divisions as well as the Under-18 and Under-20 categories. Papua New Guinea will field 12 athletes, while Indonesia and Singapore are sending 10 competitors each.
The championship is co-presented by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and New Clark City.
“The PSC is fully behind PATAFA and the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championship. We are also deeply grateful to BCDA President Joshua ‘Jake’ Bingcang for ensuring these world-class facilities are ready for our athletes,” said PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio.
“Hosting an event of this caliber at New Clark City perfectly aligns with our vision to position the country as a premier sports tourism destination. When government agencies, national sports associations, and dedicated private partners unite, we create a platform where our athletes can thrive and inspire the nation,” he added.
Local participation will also be massive, with around 870 athletes from the national pool and various clubs nationwide competing for honors in the five-day meet backed by CEL Logistics, Inc., United Asia Automotive Group, Inc., Pocari Sweat, and Masiv Sports.
Leading the roster of overseas-based Filipino athletes are Olympic veterans Kristina Knott and Lauren Hoffman, who represented the Philippines in the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games, respectively.
Also seeing action are 33rd Thailand Southeast Asian Games double silver medalist Yacine Guermali, pole vault bronze medalist Elijah Cole, and women’s 200-meter bronze medalist Zion Corrales Nelson.
“This championship provides a crucial platform for our elite athletes to sharpen their form while simultaneously opening doors for grassroots discoveries to step into the spotlight and prove they belong on the big stage,” Capistrano said.
This marks the second straight year that the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships will be held at the World Athletics-certified New Clark City Athletics Stadium, which first hosted the athletics competitions of the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019.
With the venue meeting world-class standards, the tournament will also serve as a qualifying event for the 20th Asian Games scheduled from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
