Esguera tops Touring Kayak 500m

FOURTEEN-year-old Rosalyn Esguera scored a stunning upset over former national team paddler Janet Escallona yesterday as she ruled the Touring Kayak women’s 500 meters in the canoe-kayak competitions of the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission National Games over calm waters of Manila Bay.

Esguera’s victory is expected to propel her into the radar of sports officials looking for fresh finds in the week-long event featuring national open tourneys of 41 sports.

Esguera, who is an incoming freshman at San Juan National High School in Taytay, clocked three minutes, 25.93 seconds to upset 27-year-old Escallona, a former national paddler who timed 3:42.11.

Her teammates, Taytay Boys, also created ripples in dragonboat when they bagged the gold in the men’s small boat 500m with 2:28.15, beating Philippine Navy (2:31.82) and Manila Wave (2:35.09).

In gymnastics, United States-based Jean Nathan Monteclaro picked up three gold medals in the seniors competitions at the Rizal Memorial Gymnastics Hall. He ruled the parallel bar, rings and high bar in men’s artistic events.

In powerlifting at Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall, Letecia Mangcao of Zest Power Gym tallied 277.5 points to rule the women’s open 47kg class, beating Stephanie Wong (237.5) of CrossFit Manila and Victoria Calma of Gayanes Gorillas (237.5).

Leslie Evangelista of UP topped the open 52kg class with a total of 302.5kg, edging individual entry Rose Guese (247.5) and Joana Lao of CrossFit Manila (235). Anita Koykka of Zest Power Gym topped the 57-84kg class with 350 points.