The stars of Philippine athletics bannered by Paris Olympics veterans Lauren Hoffman and John Cabang are set to compete when the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association holds the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships from 1 to 4 May at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

National team coach Geoffrey Chua said the two Olympians are thrilled to test their mettle not just against the best Filipino athletes but also against 60 other athletes from Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, India and Papua New Guinea.

It’s going to be their second straight time to see action in the annual trackfest that also serves as tryouts for those who want to be part of the national squad that will see action in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games from 9 to 20 December in Thailand.

Aside from Hoffman and Cabang, also set to see compete is Kristina Knott, the Filipino-American sprinter who holds the national records in the women’s 100-meter and 200-meter runs, as well as a score of national team members, sparking excitement while increasing the level of competition in this prestigious event that drew around 800 competitors.

“Our Olympians were the first to confirm their participation. We’re all excited to see them again here in the Philippines,” said Chua, who was accompanied by national team coach Dario de Rosas and Reli de Leon, special assistant to Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Terry Capistrano, during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum last Tuesday.

“Lauren Hoffman, John Cabang, Kristina Knott and the other Fil-foreign athletes are excited. They’re really preparing for it because they want to showcase their talents.”

Hoffman and Cabang are tipped to dominate their respective events — the women’s 400-meter hurdles and men’s 110-meter hurdles — to punch their slots in the national squad that will compete in the SEA Games.

Chua added that competitors, including the Filipino-foreign athletes, are pumped to compete at the New Clark City — the same venue that hosted the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019.

“They really want to come here, especially in the NCC. They used to run in Ultra, which was acceptable for them,” Chua said.

“Even though it is farther, New Clark City boasts international standards. So, our athletes all over the Philippines want to experience competing here and want to meet our Olympians.”

Hoffman and Cabang will march into the Phl National Open with something to prove.

The 26-year-old Hoffman, for one, is determined to dominate to safely make it to the national squad and put into motion her hunt for her first ever SEA Games medal.

Meanwhile, Cabang is out for redemption after finishing third in the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia in 2023 and withdrew from the repechage in Paris due to a hip injury.

De Leon promises intense competition as the Philippine Athletics Championships will filter the best Filipino athletes who deserve to be part of the SEA Games squad.

“The event serves as the basis for the selection of our national team to the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December so we expect the best performances from them,” De Leon said.