By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense hurdler Mico Villaran broke a 15-year Palarong Pambansa record in the secondary boys 110-meter hurdles event at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium in Laoag, Ilocos Norte yesterday.

The Romanito Maravilla National High School standout clocked in 14 seconds to win the gold, eclipsing the previous 14.68-second mark set by Patrick Unso in 2010.

After the match, Villaran credited his coaches, led by Miguel Arca, for achieving his third consecutive gold medal and setting a new record in the said track and field event.

“We are so happy because, after how many years, we got the record, and I want to credit my coaches for it,” Villaran said.

“Our hard work of training for long hours has paid off with this win,” he added.

Mark John Paculanang of Central Visayas claimed the silver after posting 14.32 seconds, while Charles James Villapaña of Northern Mindanao clinched the bronze medal after registering 14.75 seconds.

Meanwhile, Negros Occidental’s La Carlota City-native Johnmae Roxette Micoyco settled for a silver medal finish in the secondary girls individual likha anyo double weapon.

Two-time defending champion Western Visayas, represented by the Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts, opened their campaign with a 25-11, 25-10 victory over Ilocos Region in secondary girls volleyball.

Rhose Viane Almendralejo finished with 14 points, coming from seven attacks, six service aces and a block, to be named Player of the Game for Western Visayas./ASC, WDJ