DavSur bets in fiery start

MATI, Davao Oriental--Kay Dumasig, a farmer's daughter, came through with a lofty performance to spark Davao del Sur's gold-medal harvest at the start of the 2010 Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) athletics competition Thursday at the Mati Centennial Sports Complex here.

The 12-year-old Dumasig, who hails from Kauswagan, Matan-ao, leapt to a distance of 4.16 meters to capture the elementary girls long jump gold, besting Davao City's Rhacuma Jane Verona (3.98m), who settled for silver.

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"Lipay ko kaayo. Karon ra ko midula sa Davraa Meet. Wala ko magdahum nga makamedal ko, gold pa jud. Dili ko katuo. Ungta mag gold gihapon ko sa triple jump (I'm so happy because this is my first Davraa stint and I had already won the gold. I really didn't expect it. I hope I can repeat my golden performance in the triple jump event)," said the graduating student at the Sulatorio Elementary School.

The second child among three children of Ricardo and Vivian, a barangay councilor, Dumasig said she looks forward to compete in the Palarong Pambansa set in Tarlac on April 11 to 17. She, however, downplayed her chances in the national sportsfest for elementary and secondary athletes, being a first-timer.
Her golden jump set the tone for Davao del Sur's mighty run this early with a total of five golds, a silver and four bronze medals in the bag on opening day.

In the elementary boys long jump, Asher Guevera registered 5.13 meters to capture the gold over Davao del Norte's Marvin Cain (4.49m) and Davao City's Ivan Jun Alvarez (4.37).

Guevera, a 12-year-old student at Dungan Pikong Elementary School in Matan-ao, was overwhelmed with his victory saying, "Dagko kaayo akong mga kontra pero midaug gihapon ko. Dako kaayo akong pasalamat kay nag gold najud ko kay silver ra man ko aning event miaging tuig (My rivals were bigger but I still won the gold. I'm so thankful to have won the gold since I just took the long jump silver last year)."

Guevera is also set to defend his high jump and 100m dash golds today.
Alvarez of Magallanes Elementary School said, "Okay na maski bronze lang ko kay karon pa man pud ko kadula diri sa Davraa (I'm fine with my bronze medal. This is my first Davraa Meet anyway.)

The rest of the Davao del Sur gold medalists were Jay Saberon, Jecson Palacay and Ma. Victoria Alacayde.

Saberon clocked two minutes, 33 minutes and 59 seconds to rule the elementary boys 800m event. Davao City's Rupert Predilla (2:35.68) and Davao del Sur's Lambert Pedrigosa (2:38.12) got the silver and bronze, respectively.

Palacay heaved the 3.6 kilogram iron ball to a distance of 8.57m in the elementary shot put finals to beat teammate Marvin Canopin (8.07m) and Davao City's Romeo Libuit (7.24m). Libit and Davao del Norte's Angelu Patajo recorded identical 7.24m, but Libuit's second best throw beat Patajo, 6.95m-6.82m.

Alacayde also shared the limelight after checking in 2:42.37 in the elementary girls 800m finals. She prevailed over Genevieve Cuestas (2:42.54) of Davao City and Imee Isahas (2:52.01) of Davao del Sur.

Tagum City's Roldan Dajo, meanwhile, pocketed the secondary boys 800m run with a time of 2:15.12 while Davao City's Reymart Monsuller (2:15.16) and Digos City's Samuel Tampipi (2:17.78). Tagum annexed its second gold through Kimberly Dangli (8.32m) in elementary girls shot put over Joan Calano of Davao del Norte and Marjie Estoconing of Davao del Sur.

Digos City also got a share of gold in secondary girls 800m event courtesy of Mae Bibit (2:40.38m), who sped past Vanessa Flaviano of Digos and Daisy Jane Camincia of Davao City.

Action resumes today with another medal-rich event, swimming, plunging into action.