Sisters of Mary rules athletics in MYG

Melanie Magbanua made a last-day rush for the gold as Sisters of Mary ruled athletics yesterday at the close of the fourth Manila Youth Games at the Rizal Memorial Track and Football Field.

Magbanua clocked 13.3 seconds to top the 100-meter dash for 13-15 years old, beating teammates Mary Loquinto and Bridgette Areibal, who finished with 13.7-second and 13.8-second clockings, respectively, as Sisters of Mary capped a superb showing in this year’s edition of the event organized by Manila Sports Council chairman Ali Atienza.

She later ruled the 400-m run in one minute and 5.2 seconds for her second gold.

Mirriam Colangoy, who won the javelin gold Friday, also made it two in a row by winning the century dash gold for 16-17 years old with a time of 12.7, six-tenths of a second ahead of teammates Marilou Leyva and Lorna Filablio.

Sisters of Mary thus finished with a 9-8-9 (gold-silver-bronze) haul in this annual meet backed by Red Bull, San Miguel, Globe, Super Ferry, IntrASports, Concept Movers, Air21, PAGCOR and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Dr. Albert Elementary School came in second in athletics, capturing five gold medals, the last two courtesy of Bernadette Macabeo and Vanessa Faye Acbayan.

Macabeo was best in the 100-m dash for 12-years-and-below with a time of 14.5 seconds while Acbayan copped her second gold in the 400-m run for 12-years-and-below with 1:13.6.

Acbayan won her first gold in the 1500-m run the other day by smashing Christiana Pomela’s six minutes and 30-93 seconds record the latter set last year with a 6:30.93 clocking.

On other fronts, District 6 struck hardest in badminton as it hauled seven of the 19 gold medals staked to reign supreme in the country’s booming sport.

Leah Mangoba and Leo Pasakdal topped both divisions of the singles event for 15-and-under before the latter teamed up with Jed Perez to rule the boys’ doubles.

Other winners for District 6 were Dondon Balabat (8-and-under), Cezanne Elice Ansoyon (17-U), Efren Celis (17-U, Mikhali and Jules Perez (doubles 17-U), Kristel Roy and Celis (mixed 17-U).

Also prevailing in the singles event were Regie Mae Burlongan of Legarda (8-U), Angelica Joy Valerio of District 4 (10-U), Anjie Andro of Plaridel (10-U), Arleen Pancho of V. Fugoso (12-U), Kevin Borja of St. Joseph (12-U), Maristela Helit of F. Calderon (12-U).

David Joshua Bautista and Vincent Mabaquio of Bagong Diwa (12-U), Francis Castro and Rachelle Ann Cassanova of V. Fugoso (12-U) Jeaninoromi and Lea Mangoba of Mariano Marcos (15-U), Kristel Joy Roy and Mcreen Sithar of C. Garcia (15-U) were tops in the doubles or mixed doubles.