CVIRAA roars back in style Echavez, Bucag set new meet records; Noval matches 18-year-old Palaro mark

San Jose, Tarlac , Philippines  – The Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) jocks bounced back from a lackluster showing the other day in grand fashion, with Cebuana tanker Loren Dale Echavez breaking a 12-year-old record in swimming, Gia Bucag smashing a two-year-old mark in javelin throw and Daniel Noval matching the 18-year-old record in the 100m run as he remained the fastest man in the Palarong Pambansa at the Tarlac Recreational Park here.

Aside from the three golds in swimming and athletics, CVIRAA also raked in golds in archery and tennis to stretch its overall haul to six golds, four silvers and two bronzes after three days of action in the week-long sports conclave under the supervision of the Department of Education (DepEd).

The 16-year-old Echavez powered her way to a golden finish in the girls 100m freestyle with the time 1:00.28, eclipsing the previous mark of 1:00.55 set by Althea Lim of the National Capital Region (NCR) in 1998.

It was a sweet redemption of sort for Echavez, who just settled for silver in the 400m freestyle.

“I’m so happy. I was not really expecting this since I have not been able to train really hard for this Palaro because of pressures in school,” said Echavez, who just completed her secondary course from the University of San Carlos.

Earlier in the day, Bucag threw herself up in seventh heaven as he established a new Palaro record in javelin throw at 40.663 meters, busting the old mark of 39.63m carved by Elena Camiring of Western Visayas in 1998.

In the afternoon session, Noval retained his throne as the Palaro's fastest man as he dominated the centuary dash with the time of 10.9 seconds, tying the 1992 record etched by Cagayan Valley’s Ronald Caluanan.

JeeAnn Racoma added silver to CVIRAA’s athletics team via the 400m hurdles.

Over at the San Sebastian subdivision tennis courts, the Niño Siso-led CVIRAA secondary netters won the team gold after edging out Calabarzon, 2-1. After a 1-all standoff, Fritz Satera bravely came to the rescue and vaulted CVIRAA to triumph by beating Rex Briñas via tie-breaker, 7-5.

At the Victoria National High School archery range in Victoria, Tarlac, CVIRAA clinched a gold and a silver, so far.

Marie Crizabelle Merto of Dumaguete City grabbed a gold after hitting her targets well in the 50-meter distance, while Mandaue’s Princess Moya won a silver in the 60m event.

CVIRAA has a silver and bronze in gymnastics held at Hacienda Luisita courtesy of the secondary team’s RSG and Carmelli Garovillo in the individual all-around.

CVIRAA is also assured of at least two bronze medals after its boxers Hipolito Banal and Lorens Michael Romarate advanced into the semifinal round. (FREEMAN NEWS)