TWO newbies eager for a breakthrough and two returnees hungry to stage a comeback hogged the spotlight at the start of hostilities in the Davraa Meet 2019 athletics competition at the University of Mindanao (UM) track oval in Matina, Davao City.
A promise
Jem Russel Taboco of Panabo City Banana Magnates pulled off a surprise when he leaped to a distance of 4.90 meters in his final attempt in the elementary boys long jump, snatching the first gold medal of the regional meet.
Jerico Teng Eng Fo of Davao Occidental Slashers copped the silver (4.68m).
In an interview with SunStar Davao, the 11-year-old Taboco, a student of Namuag Elementary School, remembered what he promised to his mother Janice when he made that last ditch effort.
"Nag-promise ko kay mama tarungon nako pag-ayo para ma-proud sya sa akoa (I promised Mama that I will give it my best so she could be proud of me)," shared Taboco who won his first Davraa gold on his first stint this year.
He woke up at 4 a.m. at their Magallanes Elementary School (MES) billeting quarters, clueless of what would become of his Davraa debut.
Taboco, whose father drives for a feeds company in Panacan, said, "Basta gihatag nako akong tanang kusog, nibuwelo jud ko (I just gave it all my strength)."
Last year, he failed to even make it to the final eight during the Panabo City meet having hurt his foot for jumping barefooted.
Best for last
Downhearted for only trailing second after the fifth throw, Davao City Durians' Benz Klien Laroza, Grade 6 of Catalunan Pequeño Elementary School, heaved the iron ball to a distance of 9.33 meters in the final attempt to clinch the elementary boys shot put gold medal.
He bested Lloyd Lacanglacang of Panabo City (8.74m) and Querubin Lagmay of Davao del Sur (8.38m) who settled for silver and bronze, respectively.
"Wala nako sya mahabol, nadiscourage jud ko ato pero nag-ampo ko sa Ginoo na ako jud mudaug. Didto nako gigawas tanang kusog nako (I was discouraged when I failed to catch up with the leader but I prayed to God to give me the win. That's when I unleashed all the strength I could muster)," the 13-year-old champion, also a Davraa first timer, said.
He was relieved that his sacrifices paid off. "At last my hard work produced good result. I train everyday, I had to endure a weary body and the heat. At times, I feel like not doing it but I still push myself to train," the Dabawenyo said in the vernacular.
Solo feat
While Raul Cultivar, Jr. annexed two Davraa relay golds last year, bagging the secondary boys long jump gold yesterday is sweeter as he achieved the feat on his own.
"Wala ko magdahum nga makuha nako ang gold kay naay kusog nga kalaban (I didn't expect to win the gold as there was a strong opponent)," Cultivar, an 18-year-old Sto. Tomas National High School Grade 12 student, said.
He registered 6.58m to outclass Errol Granaderos of Panabo City (6.46m) and Allen Jhon delos Reyes of Davao Occidental (6.32m).
Cultivar looks forward to redeeming himself in the Palarong Pambansa 2019 after landing eighth place in the Palaro held in Ilocos Sur last year.
He said, "Happy kaayo ko kay last Davraa napud nako ni naka gold pa gihapon ko (I'm happy to win gold in my last Davraa appearance)."
Huge comeback
Davao del Norte's Adriane Hanz Taporco still could not believe that he just nailed the secondary boys shot put gold after placing only ninth last year.
"Lipay kaayo ko nga naay mahatag na gold sa delegation og maayong balita para sa akong pamilya (I'm thankful to win a gold for the delegation and bring good news to my family)," he told SunStar Davao.
The 16-year-old Sto. Tomas National High School athlete said he's been improving his throwing skills since that dismal Davraa 2018 performance.
He added, "Nagdahum ko nga mudaug. Sa paningkamot sa training di ko magmahay. Mapildi o mudaug mudawat ko'g kapildihan pero mas ganahan ko mudaug (I expected to win. I would not regret the kind of training I had. I could accept a win or a loss but I am happier to win)."