‘Gapo swim wonder raises gold haul to 5

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Jamleth Marie Villanueva captured two more swimming gold medals yesterday even as Pangasinan zeroed in on top overall honors in track and field after Day 2 of the Northern Luzon leg of the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission Batang Pinoy Games.

Villanueva, the 12-year-old from Olongapo City who captured three golds Wednesday, registered victories in the 12-under 100-meter backstroke and 50m butterfly at the Dagupan City Pool Site and could end up with seven victories when she returns for the 100m fly and 4x50m free relay today.

“I’m excited to compete in the national championship. But first, my focus is to win my last two events,” said Villanueva, a seventh grader at the Regional High School in Olongapo City.

Medalists in the five qualifying legs will advance to the national finals in Iloilo City on Dec. 5 to 8.

Villanueva touched the wall first in the 50m fly in 34.07 seconds and duplicated the feat in the 100m back with a time of 1:19.80.

Meanwhile, Pangasinan nailed seven gold medals in athletics and boosted its total victories to 28 from 68 events at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center.

Francis Marron clinched his second and third gold medals in the boys’ 13-under 400m hurdles and the 4x100m relay, where he teamed up with double-gold medalists Mark Laurence Sanguir and Paul Isaac Manibog.

Marron, a Grade 7 student from Umingan Central National High School, prevailed in the 400m hurdles in 1:06.1.

Aside from Manibog, the 13-under 100m dash winner, and Sanguir, who topped the 100m hurdles, Pangasinan produced several double-gold winners in Rico Navarro (boys’ 13-under long jump and 1500m run), Briceline Soriano (girls’ 13-under long jump and 100m dash);  Reuben Jacob (boys’ 13-under shot put and discus throw), Jayson Torribio (boys’ 14-15 400m hurdles and 4x100m relay) and Jasmine Suniga (girls’ 14-15 long jump and 100m dash).

Also grabbing the limelight was Leah Taltala of Baguio, who became track and field’s first quadruple gold medalist with victories in the girls’ 13-under high jump, 100m hurdles and triple jump and the 4x100m relay.

Taltala, a freshman from  Baguio City National High School, ruled the triple jump with a 9.40-meter leap.

Sisa Carunungan, Taltala’s classmate, copped three golds in the 1500m run, 2000m run and 4x100m relay.

Rafael Barreto of Bulacan also pocketed his third pool gold after clocking 30.82 seconds in the boys’ 12-under 50m fly. Barreto won the 100m free and 400m free Wednesday.

In boxing, Ben John Tolentino of Zambales (44kg), Pangasinan’s Vradford Miniano (44kg), Jan Rey Boy-os of Baguio (44kg), Eric Gabay of Pangasinan (42kg), La Union’s Julius Dulce (42kg) and Tarlac’s Arjay Basangan (34kg) advanced to the second round.

Pangasina’s Brendix Mamaril beat Zambales’ Oliver Apostol, 21-19, 21-17, in badminton boys’ singles to arrange a meeting with Malolos’ Gabriel Cruz.