Isidro Del Prado: Legacy of the quarter mile
By Pirie Enzo with insights by Ignacio Dee
In the early 80s a young man emerged who would take the Mens 400m dash further than any Filipino that came before him. He set a new bench mark in this event until today his performance of 45.57 remains the Filipino National Record 28 years later and still a respectable time at international level. More importantly though was in turn he created a legacy guiding and inspiring the next generation of athletes to SEA Games championships in his pet event. Finding those who were brave enough to endure the grueling quarter mile.
Isidro Del Prado was born May 15, 1959 in Cagang, Barcelona, Sorsogon. He stood at 5’9 73kg in his prime.
Del Prado went to the ASEAN School Games in 1979 aged 20. At that stage he was not yet a 400m runner he was entered in the 800m dash with a best time of 1:55.0. By far the fastest competitor in the race with ASEAN Record standing at 1:57.3.
‘Del’ to family, friends and athletes, del Prado is best remembered for becoming one of the two most successful athletes the country has produced under Project: Gintong Alay during martial law. This project was based largely on the multi-million dollar venture of the Australian Sports system.
The other one was former Asian sprint queen Lydia de Vega, who became the face of the project, a training program copied and envied by several Southeast Asian countries in the 80s.
“It was a good program. It produced results,” said Del Prado in regards to the Gintong Alay.
Del Prado vs Rabuan Pit
Del Prado now advised to focus as well on the 400m won the unique double (reminiscent of Cuban Alberto Juantorena 1976 Olympic double victory) at the 800 meter run in 1:48.79 in 1981. It would be exactly 20 years till another Filipino would win the Men’s 800m a the SEA Games.
He also set the 400m in a New SEA Games Record in 47.10, very narrowly holding off defending SEA Games Champion Rabuan Pit of Malaysia who in a blanket finish who clocked in at 47.15. Del Prado would defeat Pit again at the ASEAN Cup in Kuala Lumpur in November of 1982 47.1 to 47.3.
Asian Champion but Jadi steals the SEA Games Crown
His time of A few weeks later Del Prado made the final of the 800m at the Asian Games in 1982.
His travels the following year took him to Australia in March due to his Gintong Alay boss Michael Keon connection, he placed second in the 400m at the Australian National Championships in 46.38.
Del Prado would defend his SEA Games title in 1983 with a time of 46.40. He would also capture his first Asian title that year in Kuwait with a time of 46.24 holding off Aouf Abdulrahman Yousef of Iraq (46.74) the bronze medalist from the previous Asian Championships and upcoming (46.76) Mohammed Abdin Jadi of Malaysia who would later deprive Del Prado of his SEA Games titles.
Del Prado ran at the inaugural World Championships in Helsinki but did not advance placing fourth in his heat in 46.92.
Del Prado ran at the 1984 Olympic Games placing third in his heat in 46.82, which was good enough to qualify for the quarter final in which he finished last in 46.71.
The Famous Victory of the Bicol Express in 1985 in the Mens 4×400 in a record of 3:06.58 at the Bangkok SEA Games in 1985 remains untouched till this day. Del Prado teamed up with Romeo Gido, Honesto Larce and Marlon Pagaliluan. It would be 20 years before the Philippines would recapture the SEA Games title in this event. However Del Prado lost his SEA Games title pulling up in the heat in 49.01 and not contesting the final but was able to run the 4×400 two days later.
After losing his SEA Games title to Jadi 46.56 to 46.78, Del successfully defended his Asian title that year improving to 45.61, holding off Mohammed Al-Malki of Oman 46.45 who later would claim the title in 1987 with Yousef third in 46.67.
Del Prado never won a gold at the Asian Games however he did capture Golds at Asian Track and Field. He clocked 45.96 in the 1986 Asian Games to place second to defending champion Susumu Takano of Japan who defended his title he had won in 1982.
SEA Games Champion one last time and moving on
It took him six years to regain it in 1989 with a time of 47.20 and put Jadi of Malaysia who had won the last two sea games well and truly behind him (47.89). Del Prado would also make a return to the 800m clocking 1:49.34 for Silver by Samson Vellabouy of Malaysia.
Isidro was coached by the Australian Anthony ‘Tony’ Benson during the Gintong Alay era. Who stated this about his former ward on his website.
Isidro was one of the most talented athletes I ever had the privilege of coaching. With a 45.6/400m pb and great natural endurance he was a potential sub 1:40 minute 800m runner. Moving forward I’m very proud he became the Philippines Head Coach.
When benson left in 1982, he came under Marcelo Langurayan, a former 800 and 1500 national champion in the late 1960s. langurayan, who retired as a police chief superintendent (the military rank equivalent is one star general), stayed until 1986.
For several years Isidro Del Prado was the head coach of the Philippine team guiding Ernie Candelario (2001,2003) and Jimar Aing (2005) to SEA Games gold in the 400m. After which he took a role as Brunei Coach in 2009 where he has guided Hafiti Rositi to a national record (ref spin.ph).
Progress of 400m National Record
1956 Carlos Kevin Tan, Chico, (47.5y) *converted from Yards
1958 Pablo Somblingo, Tokyo, Asian Games (48.5)
1962 Arsenio Larosa Jasmin, Jakarta, Asian Games (48.4 / 48.49 adjusted time)
1973 Santos Magno, Marikina, Nationals? (48.0) (Magno and Clemente Lupangoo both ran the same time but Magno was placed ahead)
1974 Clemente Lupangoo, Tehran, Iran, Asian Games (48.41)
Isidro Del Prado
1981 SEA Games, Manila (47.10)
1983 Armed Forces USA and Philippines Games (46.95)
1983 Nanking (46.73)
1983 Australian National Champs , Brisbane (46.38)
1983 AAA Track and Field Champs, Kuwait (46.24)
1984 ASEAN Cup, Manila(45.57)
New Strait Times archives
Isidro Del Prado facebook clippings resource