36 track finals up on Day 1 of Batang Pinoy

LINGAYEN—A deluge of gold medals will be at stake in athletics at the start of the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission Batang Pinoy Games today at Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here.

The Northern Luzon qualifying leg of the meet for athletes 15 years and younger has lured over 1,000 entries, all of them seeking a spot in the national developmental pool.

Athletics dangles 36 gold medals on Day 1 with the first pair going to the winners of the 5,000-meter and 2,000m run for 14-15 boys.

Other events on tap are the finals of the long jump (boys and girls 13 and below), shot put (girls and boys 14-15), high jump (girls, 14-15), 2000m walk (boys and girls 13 and below), high jump (girls 14-15), 400m (girls and boys 14-15, 13 and below).

Pangasinan Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr. opened the games yesterday.

The athletes will compete in arnis, athletics, badminton, boxing, chess, karatedo, lawn tennis, swimming, taekwondo and table tennis.

Cycling and baseball are also scheduled to hold their national finals in the five-day event.