By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Negrense hurdler Mico Villaran captured his second gold medal in the Palarong Pambansa 2023 track and field event at the Marikina Sports Center yesterday.
Villaran, a standout from Romanito Maravilla National High School, notched the gold medal in the secondary boys 110-meter hurdles to add up to his gold in the secondary boys 400-meter dash.
Meanwhile, Bianca Juliana Caballero Seroy also took home a gold medal for the Western Visayas (WV) delegation after ruling the secondary girls triple jump event with her 11.25-meter leap.
Seroy, who is a product of Bacolod Tay Tung High School athletics team, will still have a chance to add up to her medal collection as she competes in the secondary girls 4×100-meter relay.
Aklanon Rhain Baladjay and Negrense Kenneth Pancho emerged with gold and silver medal finishes in the elementary boys triple jump, while Capiznon Angel Villagracia also won a gold in the secondary girls 100-meter hurdles.
Ilonggos tracksters John Mark Dableo Pagdato and Jazzybelle Mesterio also emerged with gold medals as they topped the elementary boys 400-meter run and elementary girls 100-meter hurdles, respectively.
Ilonggo Franklin Catera ended with a silver medal in elementary boys high jump, while Ilongga Ma. Jerlyn Ariego placed second in the elementary girls 400-meter run.
Also with silver medals in athletics are Ilonggos Jhon Jose Dugan and Zye Marie Coronado in elementary boys 100-meter dash and elementary girls long jump, respectively, while Negrense Marianne Pedales finished second in elementary girls shot put.
Guimarasnon Shamcey Miel Nava Romo won a bronze in the elementary girls long jump event, while Negrense Pancho added the elementary boys 400-meter hurdles bronze to his medal collection.
Also with athletics bronze for WV are Ilonggos Kris Louie dela Pena (elementary boys triple jump), Jeanette Linobo (elementary boys 400-meter hurdles), Reezy de Asis (secondary boys 400-meter hurdles), and Shane Bullos (secondary girls 400-meter hurdles).
In swimming, Bacolodnon Kathryn Anika Aguilar captured a gold in the elementary girls 100-meter backstroke event, while Anika Matiling ended with silver in the elementary girls individual medley.
In taekwondo, Ilongga Hannah Margarette Dello won a gold medal in the elementary girls finweight division, while Sophia Marie Bautista settled for a silver medal finish in the elementary girls kyorugi event.
In arnis, Ilonggo Nathan Balajadia captured two silver medals in the elementary boys individual likha anyo espada y daga and individual likha anyo double weapon events./ASC, WDJ