By ADRIAN STEWART CO

John Kenneth Ferraris of the Negros Island Region (NIR) clinched a golden finish in the men’s athletics event of the PRISAA National Games 2024 at the Bicol University Track Oval in Legaspi City, Albay.

Ferraris, a standout of the University of St. La Salle (USLS) Bacolod, captured a gold medal in the men’s shotput event after finishing the race on top at 12.42 meters.

“All the hard work and hardships I faced was all worth it,” Ferraris wrote on his Facebook page.

“Thank you sa tanan nga nag-support and nag-believe nga ako [maka]-gold sa nationals,” he added.

Charlaine Deocampo, also from USLS-Bacolod, also contributed a bronze medal for NIR in the women’s 400-meter hurdles event.

In taekwondo, Cherry Angela Rodriguez of the USLS-Bacolod clinched a gold medal in the senior women’s 50-kilogram kumite event.

Daniel Ian Tabujara from the same school also clinched a gold medal for the NIR in the juniors’ 61-kilogram kumite event.

Meanwhile, the NIR women’s volleyball team, represented by University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, split their first two matches in a collegiate volleyball event.

The NIR squad first scored a 25-13, 25-21, 25-16 sweep over Region 2 – Cagayan Valley before they bowed to Region 12 – Soccsksargen in four sets, 25-13, 25-21, 14-25, 25-21./ASC, WDJ