First-timers, Soguilon make their mark

Kyla Soguilon. SPORTSACTIONFX

DUMAGUETE CITY—First-timers took athletics by storm even as swimming heavyweight Kyla Soguilon led the opening-day winners Saturday in the Batang Pinoy Visayas Qualifiers at Lamberto Macias Sports Center here.

Soguilon, 13, who early this year amassed four golds in the Palarong Pambansa and last year bagged three golds in the Batang Pinoy National Finals, lorded it over in the girls 13-15 200-meter individual medley.

The Aklan stalwart is expected to fish for more medals in the days to come as the event goes full throttle.

John Christian Pamatian of Bago City scored the first gold of the competitions for 15-year-olds and younger when he stalked runners from Cebu City and Cebu Province most of the way before pouncing in the far turn in the final four laps to rule the boys 5,000m run.

The younger brother of University of Santo Tomas standout and UAAP MVP Louielyn Pamatian—who won five golds here previously—won despite not taking his breakfast because his event fired off 7 a.m.

It was the 14-year-old 7th grader’s first Batang Pinoy stint and he is expected to compete in his favorite events, 800m and 1,500m, as the competition goes along.

Bohol’s diminutive Ryshiamie Hurano also made a golden debut after taking the long jump top honors with a 5.17m leap. The 14-year-old 9th grader, who stands 4-foot-11, attributed her feat to her Spartan-like training.

“The coaches tie truck tires around my waist and then I run and jump,” said Hurano in Filipino. “Sometimes I jump with out take-off, sometimes I run first (with truck tires around my waist). My training gives me spring in my jump.”

Marjorie Bermudo, 13, ruled the girls shotput with a 10.73m heave for La Carlota.

“I’m very happy because I made my parents proud,” said Bermudo, who said she already updated her Facebook status so her parents would know she won. Her father is a personal driver back home, while her mother is an overseas Filipino worker in China.