Calabarzon threatens Central Visayas bid

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines – Calabarzon pressed its bid for the overall championship as it hiked its gold medal haul to 15 to stay within striking distance of Central Visayas in the race for the overall championship in Day 2 of the PRISAA National Games at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here yesterday.

Calabarzon’s Noli Torres and Central Visayas’ Lorna Olarita took the spotlight as they ruled the century dash even as CV stayed on course for a title repeat in the annual sporting meet.

Torres clocked 10.93 seconds to nip Zamboanga Region’s Joseph Oswald Cabato (11 secs.) in a tightly fought battle for the men’s 100m crown while Olarita topped the women’s side in 12.8 seconds.

Marco Vilog also took the men’s 1,500m run title in 4:06.2 while the other Calabarzon bets bagged six golds in swimming at the Dagupan City Poolsite to improve to 15-8-20 (gold-silver-bronze) haul.

Olarita also annexed the 400-m run in a twin-kill for CV, which now has 25 gold medals, including three from Irin Baluran (women’s triple jump), Ernesto Ybañez (men’s triple jump) and Kennick Alibio (men’s shotput).

“I am happy I was able to win despite strong wind,” said the 20-year old Baluran, a fourth year student at University of Cebu where she is taking up Education. “Despite leg and feet ache, I still won.”

Nestle Nuida topped the women’s 5,000-m walk and Maika De Oro won her second gold with a victory in women’s discus throw, helping Western Visayas keep the third spot with a 10-17-18 tally.

Cordillera Administrative Region also stamped its class in athletics, winning four golds behind Mercy Taypoc, who dominated in women’s 5000-m run, Divina Kitongan, who topped the women’s 1,500 run (5:04.0), John Caido, who reigned in the men’s 400-m run (48.8 seconds) and Regan Contig, who took the men’s discus throw gold with a 38.7m heave.

Davao Region averted a shutout in athletics yesterday as Charito Batuyo clinched the women’s high jump gold (1.61m).

The other gold medal winners in athletics were Maika de Oro (WV, women’s shot put), Michelle Villas (WV, women’s 100-m hurdles), and Anthony Merza (Davao Region, men’s 3,000 steeple chase).

Calabarzon, meanwhile, topped six final events in swimming, including the women’s 200m fly (Anjihah Gimena), men’s 100-m back, (Jaevico Dalay), men’s 400m IM, (Jerome Magallanes), women’s 400m IM (Annalyn Hugo), men’s 50m free, (Rizaljun Jurado), and the women’s 400m free, 4X100m relay (Cherilyn Jurado, Nempha Maestro, Roxanne Maestro, Jaydee Rose Dalay).

Central Visayas’ tertiary swimming team also had a big harvest behind Lorendale Echavez (women’s 50m free) and the quartet of Paul Uumamil, Andre Pacheco, Ric Solijon and Jess Arriola Jr (men’s 400m free 4x100 relay) while Cagayan Valley struck the gold in women’s 100m back (Jade Tangol).

Bicol Region cornered the men’s 200m medley 4x50 relay (Bryan Yot Tan, Mark Villar, Mico Berser, Joey Galvez) while Davao Region clinched the women’s 200m 4x50 relay gold (Sweet Angel Altamera, Marmie Pega, Shiena Mae Ayuban, Noshiha Kasim).

In secondary level, Western Visayas lorded it over the swim field and won seven finals events late Tuesday.

These were boys’ 100-m backstroke (Casy Raybac Gumabong), 400-m Individual medley (JJ Wilrichson Casidsid), girls’ 200-m backstroke (Ma. Rudette Casidsid), and girls’ 50-m free style (Alic Daniel dela Cruz), boys 200-m medley 4x50 relay (Jj wilrichson, Casy Raybac Gumabong, Chris Roel Guillergan and Jason Villarus and 400-m free style 4x100 relay (John Patrict Arcangeles, JJ Wilrichson, Joven Gayem, Geniel Hembra), and the girls’ 200-mmedley 4x50 relay ( Camille Fuentes, Alic Daniel Kaye Elpeloa, Ma. Rudette Casidsid).