FROM Purok 11, Upper Wangan, Calinan in Davao City hails this son of a farmer who shocked the best and finest NCAA and UAAP bets with his two gold medal finishes at the just-concluded National University Games (Uni-Games) 2009 in Iloilo City.

Jonash T. Melchor leapt to a distance of 6.67 meters to capture the men's long jump gold and followed it up with a personal best record of 14.88 meters for the triple jump gold.

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"Lipay ko kaayo kay maski usa ka semana ko nagsakit sa wala pa ang Uni-Games, midaug pa gihapon ko, duha pa gyud ka bulawang medalya (I'm so happy to have won two golds despite being sick a week before the Games)," he said when he guested at the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn on Thursday.

Nash, a third year Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) Major in Financial Management student at the Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC), said he even competed against an Asian Junior campaigner in the finals.

He recalled in the vernacular, "I think his name's Benjie. He invited me to join his team after I won the golds. But I didn't consider his invitation."

In a later interview with this writer, this five-foot-eight ace shared that he loved playing "taga-anay" and "tigso" with his childhood friends.

Having discovered his natural athletic abilities, his parents Mizael, a farmer, and Valeria, a clinic employee, encouraged him to join the school intramurals at the Calinan Central Elementary School at age 11.

"I won in that intramurals so I found myself training harder for other competitions. I also met Coach (Emilio) Toto Lacanaria. He is my coach until now," he said.

He was barely 13 when he competed in a Davao Regional Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet in Tagum City in 2003 where he was a finalist in the 100-meter and 200m dashes.

In 2007, he saw action in his first-ever Palarong Pambansa stint in 2007 in Naga City but he came home empty-handed.

Coach Toto, however, didn't give up on Nash as he invited him to join the HCDC track and field varsity team when he reached college.

"He trained me in preparation for college," the budding track star said.

It was only a year later that Nash at last won his first gold medal in a national event - the 2008 National Prisaa Championship in Zamboanga City. He ruled the men's triple jump event.

His recent feats, according to him, are just the outcome of a good training program.

He added, "I train regularly with my teammates. Every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (MWF) we practice at Davao City National High School while on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (TTHS) we just train at HCDC. There are also times that I train even on Sundays. I wake up at 5 a.m. for training. I always look forward to it because training is fun. I enjoy it."

But he was quick to say that his training schedule doesn't affect his classes.

"I still prioritize my studies. I want to finish my studies because I want to achieve my dreams," he said.

He said that he's thankful to be an athlete, saying, "I enjoy going to places, meeting new friends and to be independent. I have gained self-confidence and learned to value my health."

He said that his greatest dream is to be able to play and win a gold medal in the 2012 London Olympics.

"I want to make our country proud," he ended.