Fil-Am runner shows vast potential

From Malaya Business Insight | Author Bong Pedralvez

UNDERLINING how she could be a huge asset to the Philippine athletics team, Fil-Am runner Victoria Bossong ran a personal best of two minutes and .79 seconds over the weekend, finishing fourth in a close and thrilling women’s 800-meter race at the John Butcher Terrier Classic in Boston.

Running in a difficult lane, Bossong, 21, narrowly missed a podium finish, crossing the finish line .12 seconds VNTC’s Aurora Rynda while Brigham Young University’s Meghan Hunter (2:00.21) and North Carolina’s Makayla Paige (2:00.57) finished first and second, respectively.

The comely Harvard University varsity ace, who has been actively applying for Filipino citizenship to compete for the country in international play, surpassed her previous personal best of 2:00.92 set in the Pepsi Florida Relays in March last year while booking a new Crimson record in the event.

“We talked to Victoria just the other night and she remains steadfast in her desire to represent the Philippines in overseas meets,” noted Filam Sports founder Bo Navarro of the Ivy League school track standout, who is taking up BS Neuroscience and aspires to be a doctor.

Bosssong’s dentist mom, Annie Atienza Bossong, was born a Filipino and is a native of Puerto Galera, Misamis Oriental.

“We talked to Victoria’s coaches last week and they tell us that at the rate she is progressing, she is bound to get faster and go below two minutes sooner than expected,” added Navarro, who has also been assisting the Bossongs in securing the athlete’s Philippine passport.

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