Karl Yulo scoops up five gymnastics golds; Buhayan is fastest man

Gymnast Karl Jahrel Eldrew Yulo.

DAVAO CITY—Karl Jahrel Eldrew Yulo badly aspires to be in the shoes of his brother as an elite gymnast someday.

The younger brother of World Cup gold medalist Caloy Yulo is showing his worth after bagging five gold medals in the men’s artistic gymnastics at the 2019 Palarong Pambansa Thursday.

“He’s (Caloy) my idol and my dream is to become an Olympian someday,” said the 11-year-old Yulo in Filipino, who ruled the vault, high bar, mushroom, floor exercise and all-around events in defeating seven other participants.

Yulo, an incoming sixth grader from Aurora A. Quezon Elementary School, registered 11.975 points in the vault, 9.20 in the high bar, 9.20 in the mushroom and 12.0 in the floor exercise to also clinch the all-around title.

His victory boosted the National Capital Region farther away in the overall championship race with 53 gold, 44 silver and 28 bronze medals, while Calabarzon (37-27-52) and Western Visayas (36-19-30) are neck and neck behind the Big City athletes.

Meanwhile, Vince Jayson Buhayan conquered an old nemesis for the second straight time to earn the title fastest man in these Palaro.

The 18-year-old Buhayan clocked 22 seconds in ruling the 200-meter dash, thwarting Veruel Verdadero, who timed 22.43. Verdadero also finished second to Buhayan in the 100 meters two days ago.

Tracy Mhel Soriano of Calabarzon got the bronze in 22.50.

“There were several talented gymnasts this year, but I came in really prepared,” said Yulo, whose two other siblings aside from Caloy are also into the sport.

Yulo has already surpassed his four-gold haul in Vigan last year, and he can nail a sixth gold on Friday in the team event with NCR teammates Gabriel Andrinor Tajonera and Hillarion Palles III.

Two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Reyland Capellan gave Yulo valuable pointers as coach on his way to winning those gold medals.

Gail Santos of Marilao, Bulacan, grabbed four golds in women’s artistic gymnastics after topping the balance beam, vault, floor exercise and individual all-around events.

Archer Crisha Merto of Dumaguete City scored 1,310 points in defeating Nicole Marie Manalac  of NCR (1,301) in the secondary girls’ Single Fita round.