TARLAC - The athletes who are in the last year are sure a mark in the Central Visayas Region Athletic Association (Cviraa) books after pulling off dramatic performances yesterday in the Palarong Pambansa.
Swimmer Loren Dale Echavez, sprinter Daniel Noval and thrower Gia Bucag won in their respective events, while Bernardine Siso led the boys tennis team to a gold medal finish.
Not to be outdone, archer Marie Merto also added another gold for Cviraa’s 5-2-1 gold, silver bronze haul.
Echavez, who three years ago pondered on quitting the sport, made her mark by breaking a 12-year-old record in her favorite event, the 100-meter freestyle.
“I was younger and I just got tired. But I am happy that I continued swimming. It was all so worth it,” said Echavez, who recently graduated from the University of San Carlos, along with Siso.
Echavez’s time of one minute 28 seconds eclipsed NCR’s Althea Lim’s record of 1:00.55 made in the 1998 Palaro. Echavez also defeated long-time nemesis Hannah Dato, who settled for the silver medal. Calabarzon’s Grace Tan took the bronze.
Over at the Tarlac Recreation Center tracks, Bucag, an incoming high school freshman, broke a two year-old record, while Daniel Noval equaled an 18-year-old record and is still Palaro’s fastest man.
The shy Bucag has always been a revelation. Last year, in her first time in the national games, she became the Palarong Pambansa’s first gold medalist. Yesterday, she threw 40.63 meters to break the 39.63m record made by Elena Camiring in 2008.
“We were very confident going into the competitions that she will break the Palaro record ,” her coach Hayme Jaime said.
“It’s Because she has been performing really well in the regionals and in the training.” Bucag’s first aim was to win all the gold medals in her throwing events before she moves on to high school. She failed to do so after finishing with a silver in shotput.
However, that record-breaking feat more than made up for it.
Region 6’s Jerremay Rubias was at a distant second with a 35.65m throw, while Region 10’s Kim Sosmeña was third with 35.11m.
Noval, on the other hand, was a breath shy of breaking the record of Ronald Caluanan in 1992 and only managed to tie the 18-year-old mark of 10.9 seconds.
“All I had in mind was to win so I did not think. I just ran as hard as I could,” said Noval, who is an incoming college freshman.
TENNIS
Siso said he also want to at least win a gold medal in his last Palaro. And he did after leading the team to the gold in tennis.
Siso won the first singles against Dheo Talatayod, 8-5. Joseph Tallo and Dan Cinco lost the lead when they lost to Caddy Lao and Arjay Canoza, 9-7.
Fritz Satera then came to the rescue when he defeated Rex Briñas, 7-5, for the 2-1 win.
Merto took the gold medal in the 50-meter event of the secondary girls archery.
Winning the silver medal for Region 7 were the secondary girls gymnastics team, who finished second in the rhythmic sportive gymnastics team, while Mary Carmelli Garovillo won the bronze in the all-around event.