MARTCHAN Torregosa of University of Cebu (UC) Main Campus seized two gold medals in the first day of the 2019 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) track and field competition on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Torregosa, a gold medalist in the 2015 Palarong Pambansa, lived up to his lofty billing with a masterful performance in the 400-meter dash and 400m hurdles to kick off his 2019 Cesafi season on a high note.
The 17-year-old standout nabbed his first gold in the 400m dash after clocking in 52.4 to beat Archilles Lexis Silva II of University of San Carlos (USC) and teammate Kim Lorenz Licayan, who clocked 54.59 and 54.64, respectively.
Torregosa added another gold from the 400m hurdles. He finished with a time of 1:00, which was good enough for first place.
“As a student-athlete, we are also busy on our studies. But we make sure to always train hard despite our hectic schedule,” said Torregosa, who’s eyeing to duplicate his feat last season and win five gold medals.
Torregosa is currently on pace with that goal as he has three events left—the 800m dash, 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay—on Oct. 12.
Guest team Sisters of Mary School (SMS-Boystown), meanwhile, showed it can keep up with the regular Cesafi teams as Jessie Abelgos delivered the school’s first gold medal over the tracks.
Abelgos topped the boys’ 3,000-meter run with a clocking of 9:31.47, while teammate Jon Marc Dizon came in 9:31.80 to secure a 1-2 finish for SMS-Boytown. Dave Nicole Naveo of USC clocked in 10:11.96 to round up the top three.
USC answered back in the men’s division as Danny Tigao grabbed the gold medal with a 9:41.35 clocking.
Dwight Galolo of UC came second in 9:51.42 followed by Eduardo Nilmeda Jr. of University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) in 9:52.29.
Shine Mae Cardona also handed out a gold medal for USC with a conquest in the women’s 400m dash with a time of 1:00.71, beating USPF’s Jay Ann Luana (1:00.96) and Mary Joy Rosos (1:02.65.)
USC’s Mary Joy Loberanis snagged a gold medal in the girls’ 400m with a clocking of 1:04.49, outlasting UC’s Melanie Durano and Jessa Colinares, who finished in 1:09.58 and 1:13.78.
Melody Perez of USC won the women’s 3,000m run in 11:04.65, beating Princess Jive Borneo of UC (11:06.79) and teammate Geniecel Saballa (11:23.79.)
UC returned the favor in the girls’ 3,000m run with Cherry Andrin winning the top honors in 11:13.56 over USC’s Karen Andrea Manayon (11:27.05) and Laurence Yvory Garcia (11:56.76.)
UC dominated the women’s and girls’ 100m hurdles. Nina Alfanta (16.72) won the women’s gold medal over Mary Joy Rosos (17.56) of USPF and Pearl Angeline Abellar (17.58) of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu. Princess Jean Nalzaro (15.46) topped the girls’ side over Kristine Tabarno (16.85) of USPF and teammate Krystelle Me Loyson (17.08).
In shotput, the gold medalist were Shaila Santiago (8.48-meter, girls’ division), Jan Allyson Pajantoy (9.38m, women’s division), Gio Beguña (10.27m, boys’ division) and Jan Moses Estrada (12.76m, men’s division). (RSC)