Baguio track bets seize 6 gold medals

Baguio City with a headstart in Batang Pinoy.

BAGUIO CITY—Baguio City bagged six gold medals staked in athletics to show the way in the-organized Batang Pinoy which got under way in the country’s summer capital Thursday.

Baguio City National High school senior Regan Contic took the first gold by topping the shot put event with a heave of 11.6 meters in the competition held at Teachers’ Camp.

Also delivering gold medals for Baguio were Angela Caronogan in the girls’ high jump, Angeline de Guzman in the girls’ shot put, Jasmin Felix in the girls’ 100m hurdles, Agustina Anganayo in the girls’ 800m run and Ike Kevin Yagin in the boys’ 800m run.

The non-Baguio athletes who scooped the remaining gold medals were Glo Brian Malinao of San Jose del Monte (boys’ 110m hurdles) and Nueva Vizcaya’s John Noel Huerta in the high jump (1.65 meters).

Tennis, with nine teams from Baguio, Iba and Olongapo competing, and archery also started Thursday at the Baguio Athletic Bowl grounds.

Baguio Team A, led by Monica Cortez, posted back-to-back wins over Iba and Olongapo. Iba and Olongapo vented their ire on Baguio Team B.

Archery lured close to 70 entries from La Union, Pampanga, Bontoc, Naguilian, Nueva Vizcaya and Baguio, which also fielded a Sped (Special Education) team of sixth graders.

Badminton action was ongoing at press time at the Baguio City National High School.

In Wednesday’s opening ceremonies, Councilor Betty Cortez-Tabarda, representing Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan, expressed the city’s appreciation for the opportunity to be a partner of Batang Pinoy.

For his part, PSC commissioner Chito Loyzaga cited the sports agency’s objectives for staging Batang Pinoy.

“We want to develop friendship not only among athletes but also among the participating LGUs,” said Loyzaga. “For the youth, it gives them the opportunity to hone their skills and develop values and character.”