Thrower, gymnast share spotlight

LEGAZPI CITY—A Calabarzon bet shattered an 18-year-old javelin throw record even as a gymnast from the National Capital Region became the first multiple gold winner in yesterday’s Palarong Pambansa here.

Thirteen-year-old Jerick Mendoza of Mulanay, Quezon, hurled the spear to a record distance of 57.50 meters, setting a new Palaro standard and erasing the 51.88 mark of Jonah Robles of Southern Tagalog set in 1998.

Ancilla Mari Manzano shared the spotlight in elementary girls’ artistic gymnastics, topping the single bar, floor exercise and individual all-around competitions.

By sunset, NCR’s twin-jet gold machines Maurice Sacho Ilustre and Nicole Mea Pamintuan each plucked two swimming golds.

Ilustre and Pamintuan, both from De La Salle Zobel, rocked last year’s Palaro in Davao del Norte, winning seven gold medals each.  Ilustre also reset five records last year.

DANIELLA Daynata grimaces as she pivots for her throw in the
elementary girls’ shot put. The NCR bet took the gold. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Ilustre, 16, handily ruled the secondary boys’ 200-meter butterfly and 400m freestyle.

He missed his own standard  (two minutes and 7.28 seconds) in the 200m butterfly when he finished in 2:08.

The feat of Manzano, a fourth grader at Miriam College, was only rivaled by Central Luzon’s Samuelle Isabella Yacob, who snared the balanced beam and vault gold medals.

NCR also gained in blitz chess with Tristan Jared Cervero winning the individual secondary boys and team event along with Julius Gonzales. Its girls’ team of Allaney Doroy and Francois Magpily likewise prevailed.

Calabarzon similarly snared two blitz chess gold medals in the elementary division.

Mendoza, a Grade 6 student at Malibago Elementary School, competed in javelin only this year after previously participating in shot put.

“I really want to break the record, that’s why I worked very hard,” said Mendoza in Filipino. His previous personal best was 49.30 meters.