Cebu City off to flying start; swimming, tracksters amass 15 golds in first day of 2009 CVIRAA Meet

DUMAGUETE CITY , Philippines  — As usual, perennial champion Cebu City got off to a flying start with its swimmers and tracksters combining for an opening day haul of 15 golds in the secondary division of the 2009 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Meet yesterday here at the Lorenzo Teves Aqua Center and Gov. Mariano F. Perdices Memorial Coliseum.

Paula Abigail Vega of the University of Cebu (UC) had a splashing performance with three golds at the pool via the 100m and 200m backstroke and the 4x100 medley relay.

“I’m happy that I was able to enter the National Palaro again. I’m also excited because this would be my last playing year and I will try my best to do better in the Palaro,” said the 16-year-old Vega, who missed last year’s Palaro due to pneumonia.

Jesse Arriola Jr. and Seth Melendez contributed two golds apiece. Arriola ruled in the individual medley and 200m freestyle event, while Melendez snatched the men’s 100m and 200m backstroke titles.

Loren Dale Echavez of the University of San Carlos (USC) also fished out two golds in the 200m freestyle and 4x100 medley relay where she teamed up with Vega, Mafet Candia and Christine Indaya.

In the previous CVIRAA staging, Echavez swept all her events. She hopes to duplicate that feat as she swims for golds this morning in the 100m and 400m freestyle and in the 100m butterfly event.

Echavez’s younger sister, Ara Denise, added gold in the 100m breast stroke. The Niños also dominated the boys 4x100m medley relay title, while Jebb Cane topped the men’s 100m freestyle.

Over at the Gov. Mariano F. Perdices Memorial Coliseum, Carl Jeanette Malazarte, who will not be able to attend his graduation rites today, reigned supreme in the 1,500m run with the time of four minutes and 22 seconds, breaking his previous record by just six seconds.

“I decided not to join our graduation tomorrow (today) because this would be my way of thanking my school (UC) for the athletic scholarship they’ve given to me. I am also aiming to play in the Palaro because this would be my last year already,” said Malazarte, who also shoots for golds in the steeple chase and 5,000m run events.

On the other hand, Kennick Alivio and Kristy Kaye Vinco bagged one gold each in the boys shot put (10.60m) and women’s high jump (1.43 m).

In the elementary division, Cebu City picked up four golds in swimming. Trina Cañeda triumphed in the 50m backstroke, while Danielle Mae Ballesteros lorded it over in 100m breaststroke. They also swept the boys 4x100m freestyle relay and the girls 4x100m medley relay. — Marigold P. Lebumfacil   (THE FREEMAN)