Seth Abram of Cebu City completes his attempt in the secondary long jump event of the CCVIRAA at the Teodoro “Doring” Mendiola Sr. Sports Field and Oval in the City of Naga. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
City of Naga — They waited for six years for a gold medal drought to end in the centerpiece athletics event.
Yesterday, the City of Naga, this year’s host of the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) meet, finally beat the jinx not just with one, but two shining gold medals in front of a jubilant townfolks.
The booming industrial city south of Cebu last won an athletics gold in 2010 in Danao City. The painful wait finally ended and more aptly at its own turf when Geralyn Barquio and Joan Alinsunod swept the elementary and secondary girls 1,500-meter runs at the newly built Teodoro “Doring” Mendiola Sr. Sports Field and Oval.
Barquio of the Jaguimit Elementary School clocked five minutes and 22.28 seconds to win the elementary girls gold ahead of Cebu Province’s Wendalyn Hijapon (5:26.22) and Margie Raquel of Bohol (5:33.26).
Alinsunod of the Antonio R. Lapiz National High School topped the secondary race in 5:09.31, beating title favorite Cherry Andrin (5:10.19) of Lapu-Lapu City via photo finish. Cebu City’s Mary Joy Loberanis won bronze in 5:16.55.
The winners’ coaches said it’s a big advantage for them to compete in their own oval. They also thanked the city government for constructing the eight-lane, rubberized track oval which was completed last December.
Meanwhile, 16-year old John Dominic Limpiado of Bantayan Central School and 12-year old Louembel Mabelo of Balamban Elementary School won this year’s first gold medals by topping the discus throw and shot put events, respectively.
“This is my first time to win a gold medal in CVIRAA since I joined it the past three years and it’s a very proud moment for me and for my family,” Mabelo said who claimed to have felt pressure this early to do good for Region VII in the upcoming Palarong Pambansa in Albay. Mabelo threw the metal ball to 8.9 meters.
It was also the first gold medal for Limpiado in four tries in the CVIRAA.
BOHOL LEADS
Bohol Province currently leads the unofficial medal tally with nine medals while 23-time defending champions, Cebu City Niños is at second with five followed by last year’s third placer Cebu Province and Cityof Naga both with four.
The Boholanos have two golds from Jestoni Tunga who dominated the secondary boys 1,500m run in 4:29.69 and Joshua Abitona in the elementary boys 1,500m run in 4:55.25. The Boholanos also won four silvers and three bronze medals.
The Niños also fished two gold medals from Jhuvan Jehn Baculot in secondary girls’ long jump (5.05m) and Rick Angelo Sotto in elementary boys’ long jump (5.27m). The Niños also won two bronze medals in track and field.
Other athletics gold medalists yesterday were Carcar City’s Gina Villaver in girls long jump (4.29m) and Lyana Casey Yurong from the Province of Siquijor in elementary girls 100m hurdles (18.32 seconds). Both Carcar City and Siquijor have three medals as of yesterday.
Medals are expected to pour in today with the continuation of track and field and the start of the medal-rich swimming competitions at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) and taekwondo at the Colon Elementary School covered court in the City of Naga.