LEGAZPI CITY—Feberoy Kasi of Soccsksargen and Samantha Gem Limos of Central Visayas crowned themselves the fastest boy and girl of the 2016 Palarong Pambansa Wednesday.
Short in height but gifted with speed, they ruled their respective 100-meter dash event in the secondary division before a large, cheering afternoon crowd that braved the oppressive heat at Bicol University-Albay Tourism and Sports Center here.
Over at the pool, NCR’s Maurice Sacho Ilustre churned out his third gold, nailing the secondary boys’ 100m freestyle in a record time of 54.15 seconds.
Kasi, 18 and in his last Palaro, stormed in the last 25 meters en route to victory despite a bleeding boil on his knees and a hurting sole.
The native of T’Boli, South Cotabato equalled the record with a time of 10.8 seconds that Jomar Udtohan of National Capital Region set last year.
“I’m not in good condition. I vomited thrice today,” said Kasi, showing to reporters the swollen boil on his right knee. “I also have a hurting right sole.”
But he easily beat Davao Region’s Jeremiah Cortez (11.3 seconds) and Jovianne Calixto of Calabarzon (12.3) who placed second and third, respectively.
Though seeing action for the first time in the secondary division, Limos was a marked runner in her event, having won in the regional meet and getting selected to the Asean competitions in June.
“We trained hard for our endurance and techniques,” said the 13-year-old Limos, a Grade 7 student at University of Cebu.
She clocked 12.2 seconds in beating teammate Lejany Salafania (12.4) and Bernaluz Talon of Western Visayas (12.5).
Both Feberoy and Limos hope to win four events, including the 200m and the 4x100m and 4x400m relays.
Ilustre, the 17-year-old pool wonder from De La Salle Zobel, broke the 100-meter freestyle record of 54.47 seconds set by Kendrick Uy in 2005 with a time of 54.41 in the morning preliminaries before lowering it further in the finals.
Ilustre won seven golds, five in record times, in the 2015 edition held in Tagum, Davao del Norte.
Central Visayas’ John Marvin Rafols also picked up a second gold by ruling the secondary boys’ triple jump.
The Grade 10 student at University of Cebu, who won the long jump Monday, cleared 14.65 meters.
Charlaine de Ocampo of Calabarzon tied the mark in elementary girls’ 400-meter hurdles—one minute and 8.6 seconds—registered in 1998 by Junielou Cabal of Northern Mindanao.
In Camalig town, Soccsksargen dominated secondary archery with Justine Ronato ruling the boys’ 30-meter event and James Michael Exclamador claiming the 50m top plum.
Central Luzon’s Clarisse Michaelle Castro ruled the girls’ secondary 30m while Ma. Ferimi Glean Bajado of Negros Island Region reigned in the 40m class.
At Divine Word High School, Western Visayas’ Nathaniel Balajadia copped two golds in arnis. He topped the elementary boys’ anyo individual single and double weapon categories.
Also winning for WV were Jennifer Manas, Mary Cristel Rendon and Kyla Shane Rivera in the secondary girls’ team anyo single weapon.
Northern Mindanao’s Shaira Bonita, Glecel Joy Jamin and Joyce Marie Boiles ruled the team double weapon. Calabarzon’s Jessica Cabano-Ang captured the anyo individual single weapon, while Cordillera Autonomous Region’s Eza Rai Yalong took the gold in anyo individual double weapon.