LAMUT, Ifugao – The barefoot warriors of Ifugao, Mt. Province, Kalinga, Abra, and Apayao continued to shame makers of scientifically-designed track and field shoes.
This, after three skin-frying days in the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (Caraa) at the Ifugao State University (ISU) athletic oval.
Where running and jumping barefoot has become the norm rather than the exception, the athletes from the countryside amassed 414 points as against their urban counterparts from Baguio and Benguet, which together tallied 248 points.
Benguet continued to keep a slim lead over host Ifugao with 139 points in the individual track and field events over the latter’s 124.
Mt. Province is within striking distance at third, compiling 110 points.
2009 Caraa athletics overall champion Baguio meanwhile is a point shy from Mt. Province with 109 points.
Each gold medal finisher is awarded 7 points; silver with five points; and bronze with four points while the fourth, fifth and sixth placers are awarded three, two, and 1 point each.
The barefoot invasion of the victory stand started Sunday with two Ifugao distance runners Amaya Yugyog, bagging first gold via the 3000-meter run.
She clocked 12:54:55 minutes making her Cordilleran rivals eat dust in sandy beach-like tracks of the ISU sports complex.
Yugyog and fellow Tinoc native Jonalyn Uybaan (13:06:60 minutes) maintained their pace ahead of other contenders as their feet dug deep for added boost in the sandy track which rendered spiked shoes useless.
After the first day of below par performances, it was reported that the Baguio delegation even rushed the purchase of nail-like spikes in time for the short distance sprinting events the following competition dates.
The longer spikes were requested by Baguio coaches to enable their athletes to reach the clay portion of the sand-covered track oval for better traction.
Apayao’s Sunshine Biyong timed in third at 13:15:31 minutes likewise with her shoes neatly tucked in her gym bag.
The three barefoot runners eclipsed 2009 Palarong Pambansa gold medalist Divina Kitongan of Baguio.
It was the same story in the 5000-meter steeple chase the following day with barefoot runners Marvin Lacaden (19:42:08) and Alvin Mariano (20:23:90); and Jonie Lidawan (20:35:51) of the host province, making their trailers eat dust.
In secondary level high jump, Eleazar Cayaas of Kalinga leaped 1.61 meters outpointing Ifugao’s Jess Perez who jumped .01 meters short. Chuck Tabingan of Benguet registered 1.55 for third.
Cayaas and Perez were both ready for farming in their uniforms, their shoes used as mere markers.
In high school female division, Mt. Province’s Zenaida Bang-asan took the gold with 1.34 meters.
Sadiree Lacaden of Ifugao won the elementary boys division with 1.4; while Mt. Province’s Harraya Tariago topped the girl’s with 1.25.
In the discus throw, Regan Contic of Baguio threw 27.88 meters to bag gold in the high school boys division. Alma Bunagan of Mt. Province scored big with 26.44 for the girls’.
For elementary, Benguet’s Jhordan Bolis threw 24.56 in the boys bracket; while Mt. Province’s Aily Amayog stomped her rivals with 20.80.
In secondary level hurdles, the gold finishers include Ifugao’s Jhephunneh Samelo (boys’ 110 meters), Jasmine Felix of Baguio (girls’ 100 meters), Leo Ninlaga of Baguio (boys’ 400 meters); and Benguet’s Melva Cawid (girls’ 400 meters).
In elementary, Baguio’s Patrick Velchez bested the 110-meter hurdles in the boys’ bracket, Apayao’s Rhea Buslig took the girls’ 400-meter low hurdles tiara, and Abra’s Joel Tubban, the boys’ 400-meter low hurdles crown.
In sprint, Benguet’s Venus Simeon took the high school girls’ 100-meter dash crown.
Abra’s Mar Vincent Dar made gold in the elementary boys’ 100-meter dash while Benguet’s Rudylyn Fernandez raked in two golds in the girls’ 100-meter dash and 100-meter hurdles.
In long jump the roster of champions include Kalinga’s Ignacio Bao-idang (secondary boys’), Baguio’s Precious Takinan (secondary girls’), Kalinga’s Bryll Jazz Sad-Ang (elementary boys’), and Abra’s Jamaima Santiago (elementary girls’).
Meanwhile in shot put, the gold harvesters were Baguio’s Mark Navalta (high school boys’), Mt. Province’s Alma Bunagan (high school girls’), Kalinga’s Rishayle Guiawan (girls’ elementary), and Benguet’s Jhordan Solis (boys’ elementary).
Finals of the team running events are still being conducted as of press deadline.