10th grader from Bukidnon sets new Palaro javelin throw record

Sylvian Faith Abunda. Photo by June Navarro

SAN JOSE, ANTIQUE—Another javelin throw record fell on the second day of athletics competition in the 60th Palarong Pambansa at the Binirayan Sports Complex here.

Sylvian Faith Abunda of Bukidnon flung the spear to 42.85 meters for the gold that shattered the old mark of her teammate Efrelyn Democer (42.34m) accomplished last year in Legaspi City, Albay.

The 10th grader from Lantapan National High School achieved the feat on her fourth attempt in secondary girls javelin at the sun-baked Evelio B. Javier Jr. track and field oval. Ann Katherine Quitoy of Negros took the silver with 40.64m and Democer placed third (40.43m).

“I trained with Efrelyn before the Palaro. She’s the record-holder and I learned a lot from her,’’ said the 16-year-old Abunda in Filipino, the oldest of three siblings and daughter of an engineer.

Abunda, who dreams of becoming a policewoman someday, wound up fourth in the shot put, the event where she finished silver last year. She will aim for a second gold in the discus Wednesday.

Western Visayas flexed its might on the track with long jumper Elvy Villagoniza and high jump specialist Mary Rose Billones dominating their events in the high school level while National Capital Region plucked a pair of golds through Kassandra Alcantara (secondary girls shot put) and Bryan Oxales in secondary boys’ 2000m walk, which was categorized as a demonstration event.

King Johnzeus Alabastro of Calabarzon struck gold in elementary boys javelin throw and Marvin Ramos of Central Luzon topped the primary boys long jump during the week-long sportsfest organized by the Department of Education and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

James Lozanes of Estancia, Iloilo smashed the secondary boys javelin record on Monday after a 59.46m throw to erase the mark of Bryan Pacheco from Central Luzon (57.81m) in the 2013 Games held in Dumaguete City.

Over at the Patnongon municipal covered court, Janella Dihnezze Rendon of Bicol grabbed two golds in arnis
after winning the Anyo individual single and double weapon events for elementary girls.

Other winners in the single weapon were John Clark Segutier of Western Visayas and Cordillera’s Eza Rai Yalong in the secondary level and grade schooler Jeko Jan Heynes from Socsargen.

NCR’s Hannah Lalaine Perez (secondary girls) and Lucia Gabriel Gutierrez (elementary girls) topped their all-around events in artistic gymnastics.