THE Cebu City Niños won only one gold medal yesterday but still managed to keep their lead over the other divisions in the ongoing 2017 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA).
Meanwhile, Bohol Province surged over the tracks, winning three gold medals at the Teodoro “Doring” Mendiola Sr. Track and Field Oval.
The Niños stayed on top of the ranking with an official medal tally of 35 gold medals, 19 silvers and 15 bronzes. Cebu City already harvested 34 gold medals from gymnastics event last weekend, which was played before the official opening ceremony.
John Marvin Rafols won the lone gold medal for the Niños yesterday, leaping 6.68 meters to beat Shein Ralf Usaraga (6.57) of Bohol Province and Ruel Olidan (6.44) of Cebu Province 44 in the boys’ secondary long jump.
Lapu-Lapu City was at a distant second place six gold medals, 17 silver medals and 16 bronze medals, while Bohol Province took temporary third place with 4-4-9 medal haul.
Danao City won three gold medals, two silvers and one bronze to seat in fourth place, while Cebu Province was fifth with 2-3-4.
Erika Mae Tagoco, 16, was the highlight for Bohol Province as she upset the bets from Cebu City and Mandaue City in the secondary girls’ long jump. Tagoco reset her personal best to 5.25m to beat Pearl Angeline Abella (5.18) of Mandaue City and Jhuvan Jhean Baculot (5.15) of Cebu City.
“It was my personal best; my previous best was 4.99m in CVIRAA last year. I was really happy because I did not expect to beat the athletes from Cebu,” said Tagoco. “I cried because I was really happy. My teammate was injured and I dedicate it to her and to our division.”
Tagoco won the silver medal in last year’s Palaro.
Eduard Nilmida Jr. added A gold medal for Bohol Province in the secondary boys’ 3,000m with a time of 11:00.31, beating Carlo Ilustrisimo of Cebu Province and Joebert Bolo of Toledo City.