Laguna teener cops 3 golds

Martes strikes first, Rules 10,000 meter at daybreak

CEBU CITY – Nicole Pamintuan of Sta. Rosa, Laguna bucked a recent bout with gastritis and raked in three gold medals in the pool even as former national team member Christabel Martes took the first gold in 10,000m yesterday in the Philippine National Games at the Cebu City Sports Center here.

The 18-year-old Pamintuan, member of the national 4x100m freestyle team that copped the bronze in last year’s Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, took just about half an hour to haul three mints in the 200m individual medley in two minutes and 32.87 seconds, 100m freestyle in 1:02.12 and 50m backstroke in 32.64.

“I’m so tired but so happy because I had gastritis before I went here and I kept vomiting,” said Pamintuan. “But my parents told me to just do my best and I’m so happy that I got what we’ve wanted.”

Pamintuan, eyeing two more mints in the 100m back tomorrow and 200m free Wednesday, said her goal is to make the national team in the Asian Games set this August in Palembang and Jakarta, Indonesia.

“I hope to make the national team again,” said Pamintuan, who has committed to playing for La Salle-Taft in college.

Martes, 38, emerged the first gold medal winner here as she topped the women’s 10,000m in 40 minutes, 11.5 seconds at the break of dawn at the rain-drenched track oval right in the heart of the Queen City of the South.

It was the first of the three golds the former Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and 2000 Pattaya Asian Championship silver medal winner is aiming. She competes in the 5,000m today then vies in the 1,500m Wednesday.

Martes, a single mom who teaches and bakes when off the tracks, said she would keep on competing for her 11-year-old daughter Miriam Sophie.

“I thank God for sustaining me even though it’s a challenge for me to balance my running and family because I’m a single mom. My daughter is what keeps me going,” said Martes.

Martes, who is flying to Jeju, Korea next week on a team headed by Olympian marathoner Mary Joy Tabal, also hinted at teaching and coaching on the national level someday.

“I’ve been coaching kids for five years but I also dream of being a national coach and producing champions if given a chance,” she said.

Back at the Rizal Memorial Complex in Manila a few days ago, Big City bet Carlos Edriel Yulo won eight gold medals in gymnastics as one of the first golden winners in this multi-sports meet serving as the national championships of participating NSAs (national sports associations).

Roneth Ayuda made the host city and province proud as she topped the women’s high jump with a 1.50-meter leap, beating Kristy Kay Vinco and Baguio’s Lyka Casta, who took the silver and bronze with 1.40m efforts each.

“I’m inspired to compete before my friends and family,” said Ayuda, who won a gold in each of the last two editions of the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Games in Zambales and Tagbilaran, Bohol.

Ayuda, a 21-year-old native of  Liloan, Cebu who recently graduated at University of San Carlos, later said she dedicated her victory to her father Rommel, who washes pig pens and helps harvest mango fruits for a living.

“This is for my father, who works hard for us,” said the teary-eyed Ayuda.

In other athletics results, former national team mainstay Narcisa Atienza of Baguio City claimed the women’s shot put gold with a 12.25m throw while Rogelio De Borja of Mandaluyong City took the mint in the men’s side with 12.49m.