Aubrey Tom became the first triple gold medal winner in the Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy after conquering the girls’ 12-under 200-meter medley, the 100-m free and 50-m backstroke fields at Isabela Sports Complex pool on Tuesday.
The 12-year-old from Cainta, Rizal, clocked two minutes and 37.95 seconds in the IM; was timed 1:04.24 in the free before capping her prolific day with a time of 34.20 in the backstroke finals.
“Yes, I expected [to win] because of my training. My coach kept telling me to strike hard all the time so I could improve on my time,” said Tom, a sixth grader from International Learning Academy who is coached by Jaime Villa.
Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh, a 12-year-old competing in the 13-15 bracket, came through as expected by reigning supreme in the 200m individual medley in 2:34.91 and 400m IM in 5:25.11 and should be unbeatable in her last three events—100m and 50m fly Wednesday and 200m fly Thursday.
Tom, a first-timer in these Games, can make it five in a row with two more possible golds in the 50m butterfly Wednesday and the 50m freestyle the next day.
In archery, Jemuelle Espiritu of Baguio City took the first gold in the sport after firing 661 on 333-328 aggregate.
Espiritu defeated Geriemee Ranchez of La Union and Julian Harman Resuello of Pangasinan by a comfortable margin. Ranchez fired 619 and Resuello 610.
Mark Jay Bacojo and Gio Troy Ventura gave Dasmariñas, Cavite, a pair of golden efforts in chess by topping the rapid event for boys’ 12-under and 13-15 years old at Xentro Mall.
Jenelle Ann Adriano and Luke Albert Capulong of San Jose, Nueva Ecija, struck for a couple of golds each in pencak silat at Barangay Osmeña covered court.