Thursday, March 27, 2008 Cebu City takes top spot in Cviraa after gold rush in swimming and athletics
THE Cebu City Niños surged ahead to the top of the standings in the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association following a gold medal rush in the swimming and athletics events yesterday in Bohol.
In athletics, the elementary and high school division collected 6 golds, three silvers and a bronze medals, while the swimmers came up with 17 gold medals.
Winning the gold medals at the track and field in the elementary division were Jezreel Cabatino in the high jump event, Melissa Abellanosa in girls shotput and Carl Malazarte in the boys 1,500 meter run.
The highschool was led by UC stalwarts Irin Baluran (high jump), Sheena Gacayan (1,500m) and Sunday Joy Modelo (shotput).
The swimmers, on the other hand, who come mostly from the UC and University of San Carlos, plucked 12 first place finishes in the secondary division yesterday.
UC’s Noel Cañeda and USC’s John Solon lifted the team together as they took turns winning gold medals in the boys class.
In the individual events, Cañeda won the gold medals in the secondary boys 100-meter back stroke and 200-m breast, Solon meanwhile, took the top plums in the 400m and 100m free events.
The two, together with Joseph Cabnaday and Jeffrey Yana, made up the relay team, which won the 4x50 medley relay.
Solon won an extra gold in the 4x100 m medley relay later in the day, together with Seth Melendez, John Beltran and Yana.
Productive
In the distaff side, USC star swimmer Loren Dale Echavez led the way with two gold medals on the first day. Paula Abigail Vega of UC was equally productive hauling in two gold and two silver medals.
In the elementary division, Cebu snagged five first-place finishes.
Ray Lister Tungala of Colegio Inmaculada Conception, led the team’s first day assault as he won three gold medals.
Tungala dominated the 200m free, 50 fly and was part of the relay team that won the 4x100 m medley relay with Anthony Linn Navarro, Serge Biscocho and Israel David.
The girls, meanwhile, showed their strength in numbers as they dominated the medley events 4x50 and 4x100.
Making up the 4x50 tag team were Romylin Ignacio, Danielle Ballesteros, Lyh Ann Navarro and Christine Indaya., while the 4x100 team was composed of Trina Caneda, Danielle Mae Ballesteros, Kysia Maphet Candia and Jerose Rosada.
Meanwhile, in tennis, Bernardine Niño Siso of USC assured Cebu of a bronze medal after moving to the semifinal round.
Siso trounced two opponents yesterday in emphatic fashions. He first defeated the bet from Dumaguete, 8-1, before trouncing Bohol’s representative, 8-0.
Meanwhile, Cyril Camporedondo of University of the Visayas booked a spot to the quarterfinals after defeating his opponent from Negros Oriental, 8-2. (MCB)
