NCR tanker, trackster share limelight

MANILA, Philippines - The National Capital Region’s Claire Adorna and Serenata Saluan continued to put on a show with the former splashing her way to a spectacular seven-gold swim and the latter surpassing a record in the 2010 CHED National Games at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex yesterday.

Adorna, 17, teamed up with University of the Philippines teammates Jackie Junio, Queenie Lao and Jacqueline Gan in ruling the 4x100-meter medley relay in five minutes and 1.39 seconds to become the only seven-gold medal winner in this meet backed by Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping, Smart, San Miguel Corp., AMA and STI.

Another UP standout Carla Grabador came short in her own bid for a seventh gold as her 4x200m freestyle relay team with Claudine Legaspi, Eilene Llamado and Kate Asumbro was only good for a bronze.

Western Visayas’ Jorelyn Padrona, Alexandra Catolico, Mengie Makilan and Vanessa Rosales took the mint in 10:48.26 while Calabarzon nailed the silver.

The 17-year-old Saluan continued her rise as she clocked 2:09.9 in topping the 800m run for her second gold.

Saluan improved her electronically timed 2:10.08 she registered 20 days ago in the UAAP and smashed the meet record as well as the national juniors’ mark of 2:11.0 set by Hazel Madamba in the 1994 Asian Juniors in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Saluan will receive an additional cash incentive of P20,000 from Angping for improving another collegiate record.

“I was told by my coach to maintain a one-minute time in the first lap and then push harder from there,” said Saluan, referring to Santo Tomas coach Manny Calipes.

Saluan had received P20,000 incentive from Angping a few days back for eclipsing a collegiate record in the 1500m. She clocked 4:37.4, improving by a second the old mark established by former schoolmate Bernardita Mag-aso two years ago.

Collegiate records also fell at the pool after Grabador topped the women’s 400m freestyle in 4:48.12 and Ronald Guiriba ruled the men’s 50m freestyle in 26.48.

Grabador shattered the PRISAA record of 5:07.67 set by Marvie Borja two years back while Guiriba smashed the two-year-old mark of 26.97 set by McGyver Reyes.

“I guess she’s on target after winning seven,” said UP mentor Bernie Cavida of Adorna, who also triumphed in 100m and 200m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 50m backstroke, 400m individual medley and 4x100m freestyle.

Grabador’s other triumphs came in 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle, 200m butterfly, 4x100m freestyle relay and 50m butterfly.