2009 CVIRAA Meet: Cebu City pulls away

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — Powerhouse Cebu City Niños pulled away from their rivals after finishing with 21 gold medals in the secondary division in Day 2 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.

Cebu City’s chunk of golds came from the medal-rich athletics, swimming and gymnastics events.   

Cebu City’s tankers ended the swimming contest with eight more golds. SAC awardee Loren Dale Echavez fulfilled her goal of sweeping all her events as she dominated the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly. She also swam to a golden finish in the 4x100m freestyle relay together with Patricia Solon, Kaitlin Capacio and her sister Ara Denise Echavez.

Jebb Cane and Allan Jarina secured two golds in the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly, respectively.

The Niños likewise dominated the 4x50m freestyle relay behind the efforts of Kate Ocampo, Jessie Arriola, Pierre Nino Baguio, and Isaias Gabunada in the boys division and Claudine Candia, Kaitlin Capacio, Patricia Solon, and Jorgina Cane in the girls side. They also topped the boys 4x100m freestyle courtesy of Ocampo, Arriola, Baguio and Cane.

In the elementary division, Danielle Mae Ballesteros ruled the 50m breaststroke, while Lyh Ann Navarro reigned supreme in the 50m freestyle. The 4x50m freestyle relay gold went to TCC’s Joshua Beltran, Anthony Linn Navarro, Robin Jakobsen and Ray Lister Tungala.

On the other hand, Bethmay Arellano from Subangdaku Elementary School handed Mandaue City’s first gold in swimming as she lorded it over in the 50m butterfly.

In athletics, Vlessica Jagna collared two golds at stake in a day via the 800m and 1, 500m run.

Jasper Lance Basister won the discus throw with a distance of 29.98m, while Jee-Ann Racoma triumphed in the girls 100m hurdles. Kirsty Kaye Vinco snatched the high jump title at 1.43m, while Stella Maris Malingin secured the long jump gold at 5.05m.

In the elementary level, Muyene Kimberly Alforque won the girls long jump with a distance of 4.4m. The rest of the gold medallists were Joanna Lou Robusto (girls 110 hurdles), Paul Perez (boys 110 hurdles) and Nino Vincent Soria (long jump).

In gymnastics, Khrystine Ava Bantugan swept all the individual events in the women’s artistic gymnastics (WAG), bagging four golds in the balance beam, floor exercise, vault and all-around competition.

Ricarjay Gabatbat contributed two golds in floor exercise and all-around event of the men’s bracket. He also picked up one gold in the team competition along with Van Allen Querubin and Eric Linihan.

In the elementary class, Francin Ly Coyoca collected all the four gold medals in WAG individual events plus a gold in the team event along with Dianne Sophia Navarro and Desiree Padilla.

Gerald Baron hauled two golds in floor exercise and team competition together with Jesus Sarago and Allen Keith Cortes.

Lapulapu City’s Heiro John Concepcion stole part of the show by dominating the vault and all-around event. – THE FREEMAN