Hussein Perez Loraña, an 18-year-old athlete from Baguio City, broke the Philippine Junior record for the 400-meter dash during the weekly relay series of CEL Logistic, Inc. on August 13, 2023. He finished the race in 48.70 seconds, beating the previous record of 48.75 seconds set by Alhryan Labita in 2019.
Loraña's time of 48.70 seconds is the fastest time ever recorded by a Filipino junior athlete for the 400-meter dash.
Loraña is a 12th grader at the University of Baguio and has been representing the school, the region, and the country in track and field competitions. In June 2023, he represented the Philippines in the 20th edition of the Asian U20 Athletics Championships, where he finished sixth in the 800 meters.
Last month, he set a new record for the 400 meters at the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) national games in Zamboanga City. He also won gold medals in the 800 meters and 1,500 meters, and was named the Most Outstanding Athlete.
Loraña credits his success to "dedication, inspiration, and motivation." He says that it takes "1% potential and 99% discipline" to achieve his goals.
Loraña's record-breaking performance is a major boost for Philippine athletics and could help to inspire other young athletes to pursue their dreams.
