Rivals UC, USC grab early lead
When its 22-year reign in the Cebu City Olympics ended last year, the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters vowed to reclaim their lofty place in the multi-sporting meet this year.
Yesterday’s opening day results clearly showed the desire.
The Webmasters captured a total of 42 gold medals, 14 silvers and 9 bronze medals yesterday at the start of the meet’s 24th edition with its powerhouse secondary squad harvesting a gold-silver-bronze tally of 34-11-9 and its elementary team adding 8 golds and 3 silvers from swimming, athletics and arnis.
The shift to the gold medal tally from the previous years’ general points system also boosted the Webmasters bid to reclaim their crown.
UC’s vaunted eskrimadors collected 21 gold medals in the secondary division and 5 in the elementary class. Swimming added an 8-3-4 haul in the secondary division and three golds in the elementary category.
Meanwhile, defending overall champion USC, had a 22-11-12 opening day haul with its secondary team grabbing a 9-2-3 tally while its elementary squad collected a pacesetting total of 13-3-4.
“The medal count system is a big boost to UC’s bid to reclaim its title. I am very happy with the performance of the athletes. Now that the medal system is back we can take advantage of our strength in the individual events,” UC athletic director Bernard Ricablanca told CDN.
In the general points system, team events are awarded more points compared to the individual winners.
KONG BREAKS 2 SWIM MARKS
Highlighting yesterday’s competition was 15-year-old high school swimmer Michael Ichiro Kong who won three golds medals including two in record times.
The UC high school senior broke the 2003 meet record of Jose Ronel Dizo in the 400m freestyle by clocking 4:40.62 over the latter’s 11-year mark of 4:43.69.
Kong also shattered the 1998 record of Andrei Ynclino in the 200m butterfly by timing 2:19.41 against the latter’s 2:23.36 record.
Michael Ichiro Kong of UC wins the gold in the secondary boys 200-meter Individual Medley at the start of the 24th Cebu City Olympics at the Cebu City Sports Center. The UC high school senior also broke two swim marks while leading the Webmasters to the top of the gold medal tally. .
(CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
“I made sure that before I leave high school, I’m going to have memories that I won’t forget when I go to college. I’m still going to study in UC. My loyalty stays there. I’m going to take up Information Technology next year. I still can’t believe I was able to break those two old records,” Kong said.
Kong barely missed the 200m Individual Medley mark of 2:23:38 which Seldon Go established in 1996. Kong swam the distance in 2:23.97.
UC also won four more gold medals in the secondary division from Karen Mae Indaya (400m freestyle and 200m IM), Linday Ann Gonzales (100m freestyle), the girls 200m medley relay and the girls 400m medley relay.
Jobert Indaya also bagged three gold medals in the elementary boys competition after topping the 50m butterfly, 50m breast stroke and 200m IM.
UC’s arnisadors dominated the anyo (form) event with 15 gold medals in the secondary division and five in the elementary girls. They also dominated the full contact sparring with six gold medals courtesy of Winston Quinanola and Kimberly Bonsubre in the bantamweight division, Luke Galon and Angeline Tamayo in the featherweight division and extra light weights Gilbert Cabanjo and Mary Grace Lobino.
UC’s tracksters chipped in five gold medals courtesy of Jan Moses Estrada and Kim Obuta in shot put, Elyzza Mae Salinas in the 100m hurdles, Jun Mitchelle Dawa and Camylle Psalm Mosota in the 400m hurdles.
WINNING FORM. Jun Mitchelle Dawa of UC glides through a hurdle on the way to winning the gold medal in secondary boys 400-meter hurdles in the 24th Cebu City Olympics.
(CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
USC TOPS ELEM SWIMMING
USC’s tankers buoyed the squad’s title defense in the elementary division by winning nine gold medals.
Jannah Canga accounted for three of that total by ruling the 100m back stroke, 200m IM and the100m freestyle. The others were chipped in by Caroline Doloricon (200m free and 50m butterfly), Juan Albert Biagan (200m free), Christian Canga (100m back), the girls 200m medley relay and the boys 400m medley relay.
USC’s golds in the secondary division were won by Razel Cabajar (200m butterfly), Junvic Tiro (200m breaststroke), boys 200m and 400m medley relays.
USC’s secondary tracksters won six golds yesterday. Ivan Miguel Santos ruled the 1,500m and 5,000m runs, Stephen Pekit-pekit won in boys high jump, Niña Marie Antiola in girls high jump, Paul Ivan Gorgonio in 110m hurdles and Lynle Cardenas in the 1,500 m run.
The elementary Warriors grabbed four gold medals courtesy of Adler Jhon Gomez (shot put), Maria Althea Chloe Piza (400m hurdles), Karl Urbano (1,500m) and Mary Joy Loberanis (girls 1,500m).
UNCHALLENGED. Mary Joy Loberanis of USC as expected ruled the elementary girls 1,500m race. (CDN PHOTO/ LITO TECSON)