Diaz, other lifters smash Batang Pinoy records
BACOLOD CITY—Drawing inspiration from her illustrious cousin, 14-year-old Mary Flor Diaz of Zamboanga City led the slew of record-breakers in weightlifting as Batang Pinoy national finals dropped its curtains Saturday.
Diaz, a dusky, otherwise frail-looking lass from Mampang, Zamboanga City, shone brightest among other weightlifting winners when she smashed the girls 44-kilogram mark in snatch, clean and jerk, and total at SM Transport Hub near the famed Manukan Country.
“I just want to be like her, and give my family some pride,” said Diaz, a first-cousin and close friend of two-time Olympian and Southeast Asian Games champ Hidilyn Diaz.
The high school junior from University of Zamboanga quickly informed her cousin after registering 54-62-119 in her division that improved the 50-61-111 marks of national pool member Elien Rose Perez of Bohol established in the 2012 Tacloban edition.
But Perez quickly built a new mark of her own in bagging the girls 48kg gold, with lifts of 57-62-119 that bettered the 50-61-111 of Margaret Colomia of Zamboanga City two years ago.
The host city struck gold in girls softball, beating Pasig, 6-3. Little League World Series veteran and tournament favorite Iloilo settled for third place.
Also sinking meet marks were brothers Evangelito Dale and Jhon Febuar Ceniza of Cebu City in the 42kg and 46kg divisions, respectively.
“We had a good training that’s why we are confident coming here,” said the 15-year-old Jhon, who posted 63-76-139 that eclipsed the snatch and total (55-125) of Zamboanga’s Elbert Atilano Jr., in 2011, and Cebu’s Clark Cui Co’s clean and jerk (75) in 2012.
Fourteen-year-old Evangelito Dale chalked 60-80-140 that rewrote the 45-70-106 of Zamboanga’s Kenneth Bumagat in 2012.
Cebu City dominated lawn tennis at Monte Vista tennis court with national age-group stalwarts Jan Godfrey Seno, Zethley Alferez and Jana Pages annexing the titles. Seno ruled boys singles, Alferez girls singles, and Alferez-Pages girls doubles.
San Jose City’s Chris Justine Prulla and Baguio’s Neil Tangalin shared the boys doubles title with Iligan City’s Allen Manlangit and Kenneth Dumapit after their final match was rained out.
Negros Occidental kept its football tradition when it claimed the futsal gold, with Tanauan City and Gen. Santos City placing second and third.
