Harold James Lerios of Talamban soars above a hurdle on the way to capturing the gold in the boys 110-meter hurdles at the Cebu City Sports Center. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
Former perennial champions University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters showed its might in the ongoing 25th Cebu City Olympics, harvesting 29 gold medals yesterday in various venues around the city.
The Webmasters banked on the prowess of its swimmers and taekwondo bets to haul 19 gold medals last week in both the elementary and secondary division. Arnis also contributed seven gold medals for UC while three came from its tracksters in yesterday’s kick off of the track and field competition at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).
Along with the 31 gilts are 13 silvers and 12 bronze medals.
Rick Angelo Sotto of CIT-U shows his gold medal-winning form in elementary boys high jump of the 2015 Cebu City Olympics at the Cebu City Sports Center. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
Back-to-back defending champions University of San Carlos-Basic Education (USC-BED), meanwhile, has 24 golds, 21 coming from swimming and taekwondo last week. Its tracksters also added three gold medals yesterday.
Leading UC’s charge was Elyzza May Salinas, who topped the girls’ 100-meter hurdles and the 400m hurdles. Teammate Jhuvan Jhen Baculot topped the girls’ secondary high jump.
USC-BED’s gold medalists yesterday were Jan Dean Durano (secondary boys shot-put), who won the first gold medal of the entire meet, Jan Allyson Pajantoy (girls shot put) and vaunted runner Mary Joy Loberanis (girls secondary 1,500-meter run).
USC-BED is likely to add more golds as its elementary badminton bets advanced to the finals. Edison del Mar and Rodney Villafuerte will vie for the crown in the boys elementary singles event while Chelsea Akiaton will take on Archelle Ouano in the elementary girls singles finals.
In the elementary division track and field competition, Unit Four finished day one with three gold medals behind Kurvey Benedict Moleta (shot put), Joreen Aina Genon (shot put girls) and Ciara Fuentes (high jump).
In football, secondary division defending champions PAREF Springdale crushed Abellana National School (ANS), 3-0, to set a championship showdown against Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC). DBTC defeated University of Southern Philippines – Foundation (USPF), 3-0.
But DBTC’s elementary booters were ousted by USC-BED, 0-1. USC BED will meet Sacred Heart School – Hijas de Jesus in the finals. DBTC automatically bagged third since there are only three competing squads in elementary football.
Both the track and field and football events will resume on Saturday to give way for the Scholars Week Celebration of the Cebu City Hall at the CCSC.
Other events not held in the sports center will continue today.