Fil-American standout Lauren Hoffman and Bicol bet Ana Bhianca Espenilla set new Philippine records while competing in different meets over the weekend.
The 25-year-old Hoffman surpassed the Philippine record set by Robyn Brown in 2022 for the second time this year, when she finished the women’s 400-meter hurdles invitationals in 55.72 seconds on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the 114th Drake Relays in De Moines, Iowa.
Hoffman, who is due to compete in the ICTSI-Philippine Athletics Championships in the second week of May, settled for second place behind American Deshae Wise, who took the gold in 55.52 seconds. Jessica Wright landed third in 55.78 seconds.
“Another great meet in the books! New national record of 55.72. One step closer to achieving my goals this year!” said Hoffman in a statement on social media.
Meanwhile, Espenilla made her presence felt in the 21st Asian Under-20 Athletics Championship ins Dubai.
The 17-year-old Espenilla breached a five-year old national junior mark in the women’s javelin throw with her heave of 47 meters, erasing Ann Katherine Quitoy’s 44.71-meter feat in the 2019 Ayala-Philippine Athletics Championship.
Espenilla went past her personal best of 46.41 meters she did during the 2023 Batang Pinoy last December.
This earned Espenilla sixth place, behind Chiu Pin Hsun, who took the gold medal in 52.21 meters, while Tai Yu Chin, also of Taipei, landed second with 52.01 meters.
It was the second time for Hoffman to go below Brown’s record of 56.44 seconds, done when the latter bagged the bronze medal during the 2022 Southeast Asian Games.
The first time Hoffman did it was when she clocked 56.39 seconds for the gold in the Hurricane Collegiate Invitationals last March 23 in Coral Gables, Florida.