Democer PNG 3-gold medalist

MANILA, Philippines - Palarong Pambansa standout Efrelyn Democer dominated her pet javelin throw event and became the first triple gold medalist in athletics of the POC-PNG Philippine National Games Mindanao eliminations at the Pagadian City track and field oval in Pagadian City yesterday.

Democer stamped her class in the event, hurling the spear to a distance of 41.05 meters although it came short of her Palarong Pambansa mark of 42.34 meters recorded  in Tagum, Davao del Norte last May.

It was the third gold for the diminutive Democer from Plaridel, Misamis Occidental who earlier won the discus throw last Friday and the shotput (8.40 meters) yesterday in the meet organized by the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission.  

“I’m very happy since this is my first time to win three gold medals in one big event as PNG,” said Democer, a Grade 9 student at the Looc National High School while thanking her coach Rhodelane Aragamac for her strong showing here.

“Our hard work paid off for Efrelyn,” said Aragamac, who also trained Davao del Norte Palaro triple gold medalist Jie Anne Calis, who was eyeing her second victory in the girls 1,500m run in the afternoon after topping the girls 800-meter run (2:34.3) in the morning.

The Zamboanga del Sur Sports Academy bets also captured five golds in the sportsfest supported by the Zamboanga del Sur provincial government led by Gov. Antonio Cerilles.

In the boys division, Mark Anthony Aparri took the 800m title  (2:14.3), Rennie Rodrigo topped the 10,000-meter race (38:59.60)  and Jackielou Enojada bagged the gold in the girls division of the 400m hurdles (1:16.5).

The ZSA athletes likewise swept the boys and girls division of the 4x100m relays in times of 47.2 seconds and 59.5 seconds.

Meanwhile, Pagadian City added three more golds to its collection through Glenn Arellano in the men’s 10,000m (37:04.01), Rannie Renz Ornillo in the boys 100m sprint (11.6) and Harvey Aguanta in the boys long jump (5.47).

In the men’s division, Cotabato City picked up three golds courtesy of  Hamad Dansalan in the men’s 100-meter dash (12.2), King Abedin Kali III in the 400m hurdles (1:03.5) and the 4x100m relay (49.0).

Langie May Eder ruled the women’s 200m race (30.1) and teammate Glein Payac topped the men’s 800m run for Davao City’s pair of golds.