pinoyathletics.com

Article by Pirie Enzo

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Firstly would like to thank Mr Jeffrey Richardson for helping provide me with information on his two daughters and sharing their achievements with the Filipino Athletic Community. Also special thanks to Mrs Lorraine Johnson for supplying some additional photos.

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Two 14-year old Fil-American twins could emerge as the future of Track and Field for the Philippines. Kyla and Kayla Richardson, (whose mother is from Zamboanga City, Philippines) hail from Los Angeles, California. The girls have been running since the age of nine. The girls are coached by Jon Gilmer at Academy of Speed in Rancho, Cucamonga, C.A. Like many fil-heritage athletes before them have. But unlike any fil-heritage athletes that came before them the pair are fast really fast.

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Two on the right side Kyla and Kayla Richardson (Photo Credits: Jeffrey Richardson)

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Kyla faster than the Current Senior national champions

*PB = Personal Best Time

Kyla the faster of the two infact has a personal best of 12.00et and a legit 24.81, also has run a 24.12 (nwr).  At Fourteen Kyla’s times are faster than the top senior local female sprinters in the Philippines the fastest being specialist Long Jumper Katherine Santos (22) who won the 100m at the National Games in 12.17 PB. Even compared to Filam counterparts Krizia Leah Apelar (23) who won the 200m at the National Games in 25.04 and holds a PB of 24.93.

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The fastest fourteen year old Filipina of all time

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Kyla times not only rank her at the top of the Philippine Ranking List this year in Womens 100 and 200 but also #10 all time and #5 junior of all time in the 100m.

On both the senior and junior ranking lists she is the youngest name on those lists. Behind quite some prestigious names Filam Princess Joy Griffey holding the JR Record in 11.75 and Lydia De Vega the national record holder (11.76 as a junior). However not even De Vega nor Griffey where able to accomplish a 12.00 as 14 year olds, each having more rapid improvements at the 16-18 age.

Kyla is undoubtedly the fastest 14-year-old Filipina ever in the 100 and 200m Dash

Kyla 200m time of 24.81, although she has ran a 24.12 with no wind reading. Ranks her #5 in the junior lists. On paper only De Vega has ever ran faster as a junior with 23.54 at the age of 17. Perhaps now someone is finally within realistic range of capturing that record after 28 years.

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Both sisters qualify to World Youth Championships

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The Twins seated with their Relay Team Mates (Photo Credits: Lorraine Johnson)

The pair have there eyes set on representing the Philippines at the World Youth Championships (WYC) which will be held next July in Ukraine. The World Youth Champs features the best athletes born in 1996 and afterwards in the world.

As both girls are born in 1998 they are not only eligible for this addition, but also eligible for the next staging of the World Youth Championships to be held in 2015.

With the women’s standards being 12.50 in the 100m, 25.60 in the 200m and 57.60 in the 400m.  Not just one but both twins have qualified in the 100m with Kyla running 12.00et and 24.81et also qualifying for the 200m easy, Kayla has run 12.46et also a 12.37 with no wind reading , and 24.99 no wind reading and 25.82 legit. Which means she is not very far off qualifying aswell in the 200m. Kayla has also ran 58.28 in 400m #6 all time juniors so is within range of the 400m standard aswell. It’s probably the first time ever two Filipino athletes have qualified for the WYC without having to rely on a wild card entry.

Kyla if she continues the way she has been and runs 11.80 has a very strong chance of sending ripples through philippine sports as this will make the semi-finals of the WYC next year.

Two time National Junior Champion Romnick Nor (1996) is also looking set at qualification with the standard for the boys 100m being just 11.25et  which he has already surpassed in the past.

World Youth Qualifying standards can be found here.

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Fastest Times ever by Filipina Juniors on Age

100M Dash

12 Kyla Richardson 13.17 (2010)

13 Kyla Richardson 12.69 (2011)

14 Kyla Richardson 12.00 (2012)

15  Maricor Cuenca 12.20 (2003)

16 Chantal Balani 12.0ht (1998)

17 Princess Joy Griffey 11.75 (2004)

18 Lydia De Vega Mercado 11.76 (1982)

19 Lydia De Vega Mercado 11.74 +2.1 (1983)

Lucila Salao Tolentino 11.6ht (1972)

200m Dash

12 Maricor Cuenca 26.10 (2000)

13 Maricor Cuenca 24.77 (2001)

14 Kyla Ricahrdson 24.81  (2012)

15 Chantal Balani 25.15 (1998)

16 Lydia De Vega 24.53 (1981)

17 Lydia De Vega 23.54 (1982)

18 Princess Joy Griffey 24.15 (2005)

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NB. Please comment for any corrections, articles, videos and results to be sent to pinoyathletics@gmail.com

TO READ PART 2 CLICK HERE

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