By Vince Matthew Jaramilla

Since the Philippines’ last stint in Southeast Asian (SEA) race walking back in 2005, Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraw Tracksters Carlos De Imus and Mark Anthony Estoya revived the country’s representation with their participation in the Men’s 20 KM Race Walk at the ASEAN University Games 2024 last July 4, in Surabaya-Malang, Indonesia.

De Imus claimed fourth place as he recorded a time of 1:47:11, eclipsing the 2023 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games bronze medal qualifying time of 1:49:39.

On the other hand, Estoya unfortunately lost his chances of getting a placement as he failed to complete the race.

Indonesia’s Joliansyah and Nursalim Bahri notched the gold and silver medals with final times of 1:39:22.18 and 1:39:22.44, respectively. Meanwhile, Sriven Tan of Malaysia bagged the bronze medal with a 1:41:05 finish.

In an online interview with FEU Advocate, De Imus expressed pride in leading the country’s return to the field of race walking

“I feel proud because we’re making way to compete and ibandila ‘yung Pilipinas sa larangan ng (raise the Philippine flag in the field of) race walking. Also, we’re on our path through our vision na maibalik ang race walking sa (to return race walking to the) national team not for ourselves [but also for the next] generation,” the student-athlete said.

The trackster also highlighted the amount of lessons he learned from his experience at the international level, anticipating his participation in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

“I gained a lot of experience na pwede kong pulutan ng aral so I know kung saan at ano pa ba ang mga dapat namin palakasin at pag-aralan ni Coach Titus… Nagsisimula pa lang tayo, may UAAP pa (I gained a lot experience that I can treat as lesson so I know where and what we need to improve and study with Coach Titus. We’re just starting, there’s still the UAAP),” he added.

The two student-athletes were coached by Saturnino ‘Titus’ Salazar, and were teamed up with University of the Philippines’ Juliana Talaro(UP) and Alana Halagueña.

De Imus, Estoya, and the rest of the FEU Tracksters are set to compete with their new and improved forms in the upcoming UAAP Season 87 athletics tournament.

(Photos by Ralph Mari Castro/FEU Advocate)