Unbeaten Dato named Milo Little Olympics best swimmer

MANILA, Philippines - Team titles were worth more points but several athletes dominated their respective events and stood out in the 2010 Milo Little Olympics National Finals in Cagayan de Oro City over the weekend.

National Capital Region’s Hannah Dato completed a perfect performance in the pool at the Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Complex, topping her five individual events and helping the Big City tankers win four more golds in relays.

The San Beda Alabang high school senior ruled the 200-meter freestyle and 100-m fly on the final day after clinching titles earlier in the 100-m, 400-m freestyle and 200-m butterfly.

“It was a great weekend. It’s always fun to see action in these events because you get to compete and meet new friends,” said Dato, who emerged as swimming’s Most Outstanding Athlete and is fancied to land a spot in one of the teams in the top collegiate leagues.

Dato and the other top athletes in the three-day event will receive P10,000 in educational fund and a year’s supply of Milo products.

NCR also stamped its class in track events with sprinter Michelle Palmares and middle-distance runner Vanessa del Valle each completing a hat-trick and towing their team to victory in the 4x400-meter relay.

After scoring victories in the 100-meter dash and 100-m hurdles, Palmares also ruled the triple-jump, registering the gold-medal clinching 11.7 meters right on her first attempt.

Del Valle, only 15 and expected to join the Sisters of Mary team when she goes to college next year, topped the 800-m and 1,500-m on opening day and later took the 3-kilometer race gold.

Visayas reigned supreme in the three-day event, scoring 568 points with wins in badminton, sepak takraw, table tennis and gymnastics. NCR placed second overall (551.5), followed by host Mindanao (416) and Luzon (354.5).

Mindanao’s Jerwin Ebcas won the century dash in 11.4 seconds but failed to complete a sprint double in the 200-m, losing to NCR’s Justin Rivera. He made up for it by ruling the 400-m run in 51.27 seconds.

“Pinaghandaan ko talaga, kasi sabi niya kahapon lalaban din siya sa 400,” said Ebcas of Rivera, who triumphed in the 200-m dash and finished third in the 400-m.

Palmares and Ebcas were named the Most Oustanding Athletes in track and field. Also topping their events were Mark Jason Alindogan of Angeles University Foundation in boys’ swimming, University of the Visayas’ Jimi Campones and Mindanao’s Regina Maria Junysza Luminario in gymnastics, University of Baguio’s Apriel May Solimen and Keno Anthony Mendoza in taekwondo and University of Cebu’s Jeralyn Taboada and Aljun Penute in badminton.

Felix Libo-on and Justine Urbano of NCR ruled the grade school track competitions, winning five and four gold medals, respectively.