WV trio rules athletics; NCR tanker shines

DAPITAN CITY—Western Visayas’ wonder boys struck with their second gold medal each in athletics, but National Capital Region found a golden star of its own in swimming as action in the 2010 Palarong Pambansa shifted to high gear yesterday in the two treasure-trove events.

Ralph Efraem Gesulgon and Mark Gerald Layumas scored yet again for Region 6 this time in boys secondary javelin and boys secondary triple jump, respectively. Kimberly Natan also delivered the goods in elementary girls triple jump to hike WV’s gold haul to five so far.

UST’s Kevin Ferrer, playing for NCR, soars for a dunk in the basketball classification round of the Palarong Pambansa. RAFFY LERMA

Just before dusk fell, Mark Joseph Rominquit picked up three gold medals at the start of swimming competitions. The 12-year-old Lourdes School Mandaluyong student topped the boys elementary 100m backstroke and 50m butterfly before leading the Big City tankers to a record-breaking feat in the 200 medley relay.

Winning one gold and a silver in his maiden Palaro stint last year, Rominquit powered the relay squad of Andrae Pogiongko, Abdulrahim Nooh and Alnair Guevarra to a time of two minutes, 7.33 seconds, shattering the 2:08.27 benchmark posted by NCR’s Mark Tano, Malco Dacanay, Matthew Tano and Alvin Alco five years ago.

“It felt great because I really worked hard for this,” said Rominquit. His exploits also allowed NCR to challenge swimming defending champion Calabarzon by scooping eight gold medals from the pool against Calabarzon’s seven.

“Our plan is to dominate athletics in all categories. I think this time we can win the overall title,” said WV coach Eliseo Navarro.

Eighteen-year-old Gesulgon hurled the spear to 52.30 meters to take his fourth straight javelin throw gold medal. Last Monday he bagged the shot put title and is on track for a third crown, this time in high jump.

“It’s hard because I have to put on weight for throwing events, but at the same time I have to be light enough for high jump,” said Gesulgon in Filipino. The muscular 5-foot-9 Miag-ao, Iloilo, native will play for Mapua in the NCAA.

Layumas also got his gold No. 2 with a victory in boys secondary triple jump with an effort of 14.34m. He won long jump last Monday.

NCR claimed two victories at the Jose Rizal Memorial State University sports complex when Yra Perlita Ynot copped the top prize in girls secondary long jump (5.30m) and John Edrick Manalang topped the boys elementary discus throw (33.18m).

Host Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9) snared its first gold medal through Terencezel Medina in elementary girls shot put (8.97m), while Soccksargen’s Rolando Sisgados Jr. leaped 11.58m for the boys elementary triple jump title.

At the Polanco Municipal Gymnasium, NCR athletes bagged the championships in girls secondary artistic all around and girls elementary rhythmic team events, while Ma. Christina Onofre and Ariell Nicole Orella finished 1-2 in the individual contest, respectively.

Alnair Guevarra opened NCR’s campaign with a win in boys elementary 200m freestyle. Also taking the top plum for NCR were Regina Castrillo in girls elementary 50m butterfly (31.33 seconds), Garbriel Castelo in boys secondary 200m fly (2:14.57), Ingrid Ilustre in girls secondary 200m fly (2:30.46), and the boys secondary 200m medley relay team of Jan Jeric Santos, Castelo, Andre Yambao and Axel Ngui (1:56.06)