By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr.

St. John’s Institute (SJI) emerged as the overall champions in the elementary division at the recently-concluded Visayas leg of the Milo Little Olympics in Cebu City.
With the victory, SJI became the first school outside of Cebu to take the title, which came with a trophy and P40,000.
SJI dominated swimming, earning a total 60 points towards their overall championship honor.
Jhanna Neri was named ‘most outstanding athlete’ among elementary girls in swimming, winning five gold, one silver, and one bronze medal. Meanwhile, an additional 10 gold, five silver, and four bronze medals were won by other members of the swimming contingent; including wins in the 4×100 freestyle, 4×100 individual medley (IM), 4×50 freestyle, and 4×50 IM by the boys relay team, comprised of Gary Donguines, Oliver Espinosa, Janjan Locsin, and Rafael Uy.
The girls relay team took gold in the 4×100 freestyle and the 4×100 IM relay.
In other events, Benjamin Richard Pedroso won gold in taekwondo in the 160-168cm category, while Cyrus Antwayne Hilado took silver in the 144-152 cm category; and in elementary basketball, SJI defeated the University of the Visayas to earn the bronze medal.
Among secondary division athletes, the secondary boys swimming team won silver in the 4×100 freestyle relay, Jarryd Neri won silver in the 100m freestyle, and Tristan Villa took bronze in the 200m breaststroke; while Cris Antoinette Hilado won silver in taekwondo in the heavyweight division./WDJ