ARCHER Ruben David Supena and swimmer Juliana Megara Conlu snagged seven and six gold medals each, respectively, to lead the Baguio City E-Lions to another dominating performance in retaining the overall title of the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (Caraa) regional sports meet.

Baguio City took home 202 gold medals, 111 silvers and 79 bronze, although 20 gold medals short of its haul last year, managed to retain the crown in the annual regional meet which closed March 3 at the Apayao Sport and Eco-Tourism Center in Payanan, Luna in Apayao province.

Supena bagged gold medals in the 30, 50, 60, 70, 1440 round, team, and mixed team match while Conlu lorded the 50-meter butterfly, 50-meter backstroke, 100-meter backstroke, 100-meter butterfly, 200-meter medley relay, and 400-meter medley relay.

Host province Apayao Eagles was the biggest winner in the competition, jumping from fifth last year to second place after grabbing 69-75-79.

Apayao banked on the 25 golds harvested in rhythmic and aero gymnastics of the 41 copped in the elementary level while the high school squad was able to take home 28 golds.

"We were confident that our athletes did not only have a good start but they were able to have a good finish. Our goal is to become the first runner-up," Vincent Talattag, provincial administrator said.

Talattag admitted that Baguio is still a force to reckon with and the province is trying its best to become the next best squad in the regional sports meet.

Abra Stallions also improved to third place after a fourth place finish last year with its 40-47-87 medal harvest with five of the 18 gold medals in the elementary level coming from swimming while the high school division had 22 with five coming from athletics.

Benguet, the perennial runner-up slid to fourth place mustering on 36 golds ,67 silvers, and 82 bronze medals.

The Stingers leaned on the eight gold medals in dance sports in the elementary level while sweeping the football and futsal competition.

Ifugao Builders also dropped to fifth place with 27-47-72 even as Mountain Province Brave Highlanders improved to sixth place afte snatching 16-25-45 while newcomer Tabuk City Brewers has 11-27-35 even as Kalinga Bulls managed to earn 6-6-19 for an eighth place finish.

In the special games, Benguet came up with 14 gold medals including 19 silvers and 13 bronze to top the competition while Tabuk City finished second with its 13-8-7 haul while Baguio City came in third with 12-9-13 as Mt. Province finished 4th with 1-4-3.