Bryan Pacheco shatters junior javelin mark

MANILA, Philippines — Bryan Pacheco of Far Eastern University reasserted his supremacy in junior men’s javelin after smashing his own record Monday in the PSC-POC Philippine National Games.

The 17-year-old from Baler, Aurora, flung the spear to 62.91 meters in the infield of the scorching-hot Philsports track oval in Pasig to break the 62.47m he set just recently in the Palarong Pambansa in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

Joshua Patalud of De La Salle-Dasmariñas took the silver medal (57.81m) and FEU’s Rejohn Cliff Gadian copped the bronze (52.85m).

“I’m happy with the improvement,” said the 5-foot-10 Pacheco in Filipino after his feat which is expected to give him a slot in the national pool. “Breaking the record for the third time will be my next goal.”

Multiple Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Arniel Ferrera and veteran Julius Sermona also shone in their respective events.

Ferrera, who earlier topped the hammer throw, grabbed a second gold medal in the discus throw with a hurl of 40.39 meters.

Fellow national thrower Julius Felicisimo Nierras was second in 39.67m and John Albert Mantua of Jose Rizal University third in 37.76.

Sermona snatched the gold in the senior men’s 5000 meters in 14:48.22. Sonny Wagdos of Team Titus settled for the silver in 15:10.36 and Baguio City’s Cesar Cataneto Jr. took the bronze in 15:15.90.

Baguio’s Jessa Mangsat ruled the senior women’s 5000m in 18:34.71 while Felyn Dolloso of De La Salle-Dasmariñas grabbed the gold in the senior women’s triple jump in 12.08m.

Generalao double Over in Tanauan City, Batangas, Hermie Macaranas snagged the canoe single men’s gold in 51.14 seconds while Alvin Generalo prevailed in the kayak men’s singles. Generalo pulled off a second victory with his brother Alex in the kayak doubles after besting siblings Edgar and Edward Galang.

The Generalo brothers clocked 47.50 seconds for the gold. Macaranas struck another gold in the canoe men’s doubles with Ojay Fuentes (47.50).

Philippine Navy subdued the Philippine Marines in the 500m mixed major kayak finals. Navy clocked 1:57.07 while the Marines timed 1:58.03.