Negrense swimmer picks up six gold medals

By Adrian Stewart Co

Negrense Alexi Kouzenye Cabayaran picked up six gold medals, earning the most medals in girls’ swimming at the 2019 Batang Pinoy Visayas qualifying leg, which took place at the Iloilo Sports Complex in Iloilo City.

“It’s my first time in the Batang Pinoy and I’m really happy I won six golds,” she said.

The 12-year-old Mambukal Elementary School student won the 200-meter freestyle; 50-meter freestyle; 50-meter backstroke; 100-meter backstroke; 100-meter free; and the 200-meter medley relay with Mareanne Apdo, Ela Reign Buelos, and Rianna Montelibano.

Also winning gold in swimming were Bacolod City’s Kalra Ysaballe Labayen, who won the girls’ 15-under 400-meter free; and Maxene Hayley Uy, who won the girls’ 15-under 50-meter butterfly.

Negros Occidental’s Jay-R Punzalan also emerged victorious in the boys’ 13-15 100-meter backstroke.

In other sports, Bacolod City’s Pauline Kalaw and Joy Tubongbanua each won gold in karatedo, while fellow Bacolodnon Shifra Medina took silver; and the Negros Occidental girls’ volleyball team finished in second place to Iloilo City after losing 25-14, 25-13./ASC, WDJ