Dumaguete City, Philippines — Some of Cebu City’s top athletes won’t be finishing the remainder of the ongoing 2009 Central Visayas Athletics Association (CVIRAA) meet but not after giving the team a much-needed boost in the medal tally of the annual meet.

16-year-old Paula Vega, a multi-titled tanker in the secondary division, and 12-year-old Trina Cañeda, one of the top athletes in the elementary class, returned to Cebu City to attend their graduation rites of the University of Cebu (UC) on Wednesday.

But before leaving Tuesday night, both have already did their damage.

Vega contributed gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100 medley relay together with Christine Indaya, Maphet Candia and Loren Dale Echavez in the secondary division.

Cañeda chipped in a gold medal in the 50m backstroke.

“Out of seven events, I can only compete in four,” Vega said. She will not be competing in the 200m, 400m and 100m freestyle events.

However, her absence won’t jeopardize her chances to join next month’s Palarong Pambansa in Tacloban City.

After missing it last year due to pneumonia, she made sure that she will be pouring in the best of her skills for Central Visayas in her last stint.

Adding up to Cebu City’s medal haul was Seth Melendrez, who chipped in two gold medals after ruling the 100m and 200m backstroke event. Jess Arriola Jr. also contributed two gold medals in the individual medley and 200-m freestyle
Loren Dale Echavez of the University of San Carlos (USC) put up an impressive performance as she ruled the 200m freestyle.

17-year-old Carl Jeanette Malazarte, Deejay Bacus and Jasper Basister were also set to attend their graduation but decided to finish what they came for.

“We want to do this not only for Cebu City but also for our alma mater (UC), who believed in our potential in exchange for a four-year scholarship grant” said Malazarte, who ruled the 1,500m run, clocking 4:28.

In the other athletic events, Cebu City’s Kristy Kaye Vinco and Sarah Napoles cleared the bar with the same height of 1.43m but Vinco prevailed after Napoles incurred more faults in her attempts.

In the shot put event, 16-year-old Kennick Alivio took the gold medal with a distance of 10.60, followed by Edmar Nino Layese of Cebu Province with 10.11 and Eldefonso Pino of Cebu Province settling for third with 9.86.

The battle continues Wednesday as eight gold medals are at stake in the athletics division in the secondary level and eight in the elementary level.