CLRAA: Malolos tanker first triple gold medalist

IBA, Zambales—Dexter King Lacuna of Malolos City became the first triple gold medalist of the 2012 Central Luzon Athletic Association (CLRAA) meet Tuesday.

Lacuna, 14, replicated the swimming exploits of older brother and Youth Olympic Games veteran Jessie King Lacuna by splashing his way to the gold medals in the secondary boys 400m freestyle (2:42.41), 100m backstroke (1:05.37) and 200m butterfly (2:24) at the refurbished Olympic pool of the Zambales Sports Center.

As competitions in the CLRAA turned fever-pitch, Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and son, District II Rep. Jun Omar Ebdane, expressed interest in hosting the meet anew in 2013—if there would be no takers.

“May we, the province of Zambales, be given the chance to host these outathletes again in 2013,” said Ebdane.

Winning is not new to Lacuna, a sophomore at the Marcelo H. Del Pilar National High School.

“I won five gold medals and a relay silver medal in last year’s CLRAA [in Bulacan],” said Lacuna. “I think I’m capable of duplicating my performance here.”

Elijah Jean Antonio gave Malolos its fourth gold medal in the elementary girls 200m freestyle (2:42.41) as the delegation poised itself to a pool showdown with Olongapo City and Bulacan.