By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Western Visayas (WV)-b0ased swimmers contributed to the delegation’s medal hauls on Day 4 of the Palarong Pambansa 2023 at the Marikina Sports Center yesterday.
The WV swimming relay team of Coraline Montalbo, Anika Matiling, Savannah Secuelan, and Chelsea Marie Billanes clinched a gold in the elementary girls 4×100-meter medley relay.
Meanwhile, the secondary girls 4×100-meter relay team of Maxene Uy, Dee Vianne Catedrilla, Riana Montelibano, and Joan Catherine Perez settled for a silver medal finish in their event.
Aklanon Jennuel Booh de Leon clinched a gold medal in the secondary boys 100-meter freestyle with a record time of 26.78 seconds before he followed it with a gold in 50-meter backstroke in 53.68 seconds.
De Leon then captured a silver along with Lance Magno, Earl Buncion and Troy Castor in the relay event, while Ilonggo Alexander Quiton won a silver in the 200-meter medley relay and Nuche Veronica Ibit bagged a bronze in the 4×50 secondary girls freestyle relay.
Negrense sprinter Krisha Dedoyco Aguilon bested her opponents in the secondary girls 200-meter dash event to add to her earlier gold medal triumph in the 100-meter dash.
For his part, Negrense Mico Villaran continued his strong campaign in the week-long competition as he topped the secondary boys 200-meter dash, while Christian Dominic Hubag ruled the elementary boys 1,500-meter run.
Also with gold medals for the WV athletics team are Ilonggos John Mark Pagdato in the elementary boys 200-meter dash and Jerlyn Ariego in the elementary girls 200-meter dash event.
Pagdato later clinched his second gold medal as a member of the elementary boys 4×100-meter relay team along with fellow Ilonggos John Jose Dugan, Jumel Dichosa and Winnie John Paclibar.
Ariego also got her second gold medal for the day after the WV ruled the elementary girls 4×100-meter relay with fellow Ilonggas Shanelle Jane Felomino and Karen Bala-an, and Negrense Febie Kate Brito.
Charls Kyn Cordova of Aklan captured a bronze medal in the secondary boys discus throw, while Ilonggo Kim Justin Gardoce won a bronze in the elementary boys 110-meter hurdles.
In billiards, Alexandra Nicole Gabrinez of Negros Occidental’s San Carlos City, won a gold in secondary girls eight-ball, while John Carlo Miraflor of Negros Occidental’s La Carlota City, settled for silver in the men’s event.
In arnis, Nathan Balajadia, Melchor Bataican III and John Archie Cagatan notched two golds in the elementary boys synchronized single weapon gold, silver in synchronized double weapon events.
The trio of Carl Wayne Reyes, Kyle Angelo Tiron and Paul Angelo Tiron also bagged two gold medals in the secondary boys synchronized likha anyo single weapon and double weapon events.
Clemence Marie Alag, Emerald Jane Legario and Mary Clarlyn Alviar won a gold medal in the secondary girls synchronized likha anyo espada y daga, while Negrense Arreanah Alvarado got a bronze in elementary girls individual likha anyo single weapon and synchronized espada y daga with Margarett Jhade Langruto and Ferbelle Padrequil.
WV’s secondary girls sepak takraw team also added to the delegation’s gold medal after a 2-0 win over Region 7 in the finals, while Karl Ziovhan Batulayan contributed a bronze medal in the taekwondo kyorugi event./ASC, WDJ