Davao runner bags Araw athletics gold

DAVAO Region Athletic Association (Davraa)-bound Betty Lois Moralde of Davao City stunned more seasoned varsity Crycile Kuming of the University of Mindanao for the women's 14-above gold medal at the close of the Mayor Rody and Vice Mayor Inday Sara Sports Festival athletics competition at the Davao City National High School over the weekend.

Moralde, representing Davao City Athletic Association (DCAA), clocked five minutes, 58 minutes and 69 seconds over Kuming’s 6:06.86. The latter got the silver while Merlie Balignot of DCAA salvaged the bronze by breasting the tape at 6:27.42.

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UM, however, harvested a total of seven golds, four silvers and two bronzes to rule the women's 14-above division. Arch-rival Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) placed second with two golds, four silvers and two bronzes while DCAA-A was third with a 2-3-4 medal count. Brokenshire College (BC) came fourth with only one bronze.

In the men's 14-above category, UM stamped rivals with a record of seven golds, five silvers and three bronzes. HCDC (3-4-3), BC (0-1-2) and DCAA (0-01) finished in the next three spots of the two-day trackfest presented by Mayor Rodrigo and Vice Mayor Inday Sara Duterte in coordination with the Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office (SDD)-CMO).

HCDC's Jonash Melchor bagged three golds in men's 100 meters, triple jump and long jump while UM's Ernesto Alsa copped the 200m gold and led his team to win the 4x100 relay gold. April Joy Manantan, on her part, pocketed the women's 100m and anchored UM's 4x100 team for the gold. (MLSA)