Young Karl Yulo dazzles way to 7 gymnastics golds

MANILA, Philippines — Karl Yulo stamped his mark in artistic gymnastics, racking up seven golds in Class 1 division in the Batang Pinoy National Championships at the Baguio City National High School Gym yesterday.

The 10-year-old Yulo outclassed his rivals in the floor exercise (9.10 points), vault (9.55), pommel horse (9.70), parallel bars (9.10), rings (9.15), horizontal bar (9.50) and individual all-around (56.10) to dominate even as Rhendz John Castillo of Pasig City shone in the pommel horse (9.3), rings (8.75), horizontal bar (9.45) and individual all-around (54.55) to rule the Class 2 division with four gold medals.

At the Baguio Athletic Bowl, 15-year-old Mary Grace Joson of Camarines Sur, the tournament’s first gold medalist Monday, heaved 36 meters to pocket the girls’ javelin throw while settling for silver in shot put.

Other winners were Arjay Rios of Pangasinan in boys’ javelin throw (52.11m), Jemar Morales of Cebu City in boys’ 2000m steeplechase (6:46.52), Maasin City’s Jerome Acejo in boys shotput (12.98m), Laguna’s Jan Rey Gallano in boys’ 400m hurdles (57.20 seconds) and Magvrylle Matchino in girls’ 2000m steeplechase (8:04.24) and Dasmariñas City’s Charlaine Deocampo in 400m hurdles (1:05.94).

Meanwhile, Malaybalay City’s Joseff Miguel Quirino and Marielle Estreba of Cebu rebounded from their failed bids in cycling’s criterium race Tuesday as they ruled the triathlon 13-15 boys and girls’ division, respectively.

Quirino timed 19:32 in the 400m swim, 6K bike and 2K run event then Jan Paul Alexandrie Orong made it a 1-2 finish for Malaybalay City with his clocking of 20:26.

Estreba made up for her fourth place finish in the cycling criterium race and outsprinted Moira Frances Erediano of Lapu-Lapu City (51:16) and Honny May Yanong of Laguna (51:16) by a winning 24-second margin.

In swimming, Paranaque City’s Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh captured her fourth gold as she logged 2:32.20 in 200m butterfly at the Baguio City Swimming Pool but Lucena City, Laguna and Quezon City took the spotlight in the three-day swimming competitions with their respective medal hauls.

Lucena City collected 13 golds, four silvers and one bronze with Mervien Jules Mirandilla accounting for four golds (2:13.12 in 13-15 200m fly, 58.38 seconds in 100m freestyle, 59.92 seconds in 100m fly and 27.27 seconds in 50m fly) and Markus Johanne De Kam, three.

Led by Roz Encarnacion’s four gold medals in the girls 12-under 200m individual medley (2:40.97), 50m breaststroke (37.33sec), 200m breaststroke (2:55.02) and 100m breaststroke (1:19.70), Laguna finished with a second-best 13 golds, two silvers and six bronzes while Zoe Hilario had four golds (2:17.73 in girls 13-15 200m free, 5:44.26 in 400m IM, 2:31.67 in 200m backstroke and 2:38.57 in 200m IM) in Quezon City’s 10-gold, four-silver, two-bronze tally.