Ilonggo athletes spring surprise, Leads Day 1 of MLO Visayas

CEBU, Philippines - The visiting Ilonggo athletes caught everyone by surprise including the powerhouse University of Cebu (UC) after they hauled four golds at the start of the athletics event in the 17th Milo Little Olympics Visayas eliminations yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center.

He may not be the fastest in their place, but the Guimaras Island-native Axl Catalbas felt like he was king of the track oval after hammering his way to a pair of gold medals.

Interestingly, Catalbas has not yet joined in a Palarong Pambansa meet saying that there were a lot of faster guys than him before back home.

The 17-year-old Catalbas, competing under the banner of Iloilo National High School, claimed the first gold at stake in athletics after dominating the secondary boys 5,000m run with the time of 17 minutes and 53.16 seconds.

Prince Joey Lee of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation settled for silver in 18:00.66, while UC's Rozel Ardiente got the bronze with a 18:32.41 clocking.

After a much-needed rest, Catalbas sealed his day with another gold via the 1,500m run. He did not have a flashy start but he knew when to pull it away, speeding up in the last two laps to eventually overtake USPF's John Cliff Debulosan in the final five meters.

Catalbas to win the battle with the time of four minutes and 23.92 seconds, just four-tenths of a second ahead of Debulosan, while another USPF long distance runner Joel Andrin wound up third with a 4:34.84 clocking.

Two other Ilonggos stole the show from the Cebuano tracksters, with Janeza Mae Sastituedo and Lanz Jeremy Halongong basking in the glow of golden performances.

Sastituedo topped the secondary girls 1,500m run with the time of 5:07.32. Lovely Fe Andrin of Pajo NHS placed second in 5:12.35 followed by USPF’s Crizel Diongson in 5:20.48.

Halongong, on the other hand, bested UC’s Jan Moses Estrada to grab the gold in secondary boys shot put. He heaved the iron ball to a distance of 8.86 meters, while Estrada came in second at 8.66m. Another Iloilo bet John Christian Capasao took the bronze with an 8.57-meter mark.

Shantel Tanucan prevented UC from a gold medal blackout after lording it over in the secondary girls high jump. She actually posted the same mark with Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu’s Brittina Maia Cañete at 1.41m, but Tanucan had lesser attempts to snatch the gold.

 Jason Ong Arvid made up from Cañete's failed attempt for gold by topping the secondary boys high jump. He cleared the high bar at a height of 1.62m.

Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) also salvaged a gold via the secondary girls shot put courtesy of Bera Rose Saragena with a heave of 8.66m.

In the elementary division, the University of San Carlos (USC) swept the golds in the 1,500m run behind the efforts of Mary Joy Loberanis (5:45.30) and Vince Menard Galan (5:35.27).

CIT-U also had a double gold through high jumper Hannah Rayoso (1.10m) and shot putter Michelle del Corro (6.90m). - THE FREEMAN