Nestor Padua, a skinny but technically sound 12-year-old, debuted in style and clinched one of three early gold medals staked in day one Monday of the 2012 Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association (CLRAA) at the Zambales Sports Complex in Iba.
Representing San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, Padua booked an impeccable throw for his age of 42.09 meters to handily win the gold medal in the elementary boys’ javelin.
“This is my first time to participate here and the result is totally unexpected,” Padua, a fourth-grader at San Agustin Elementary School, said in Filipino.
Mark Juan from Tarlac Province and Elias Clares from Bulacan recorded 36.83m and 36.35m to settle for the silver and bronze medals, respectively, in the meet held for the first time after 18 years by Zambales behind Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and his son, newly-elected Second District Rep. Jun Omar Ebdane.
Padua’s performance not only landed him a spot on the Region III team to the Palarong Pambansa this summer in Pangasinan, but also took home a P10,000 incentive San Jose Mayor Marivic Belena will be giving to all gold medal winners from the delegation.
Aira Collaine Tiburcio from Tarlac City (8.12m) and Jackielyn Alviar from Munoz City (4.83m) ruled the elementary girls shotput and secondary girls long jump.