By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Coraline Montalbo delivered a standout performance for Bacolod City after winning two gold medals in the swimming competition of the Negros Island Region Athletic Association Meet (NIRAAM) 2026 in Bacolod City.

The 14-year-old Bacolod Tay Tung High School standout first struck gold in the girls’ secondary 200-meter butterfly, clocking 2:39.56, earning her a slot in the upcoming Palarong Pambansa.

Montalbo then played a key role in Bacolod’s victory in the secondary girls’ 4×100-m medley relay.

Teaming up with Savannah Secuelan, Rhianne Gonzales and Anika Kathryn Matiling, the quartet secured the gold medal with a time of 4:58.33.

Aside from the two gold medals, Montalbo also added a silver medal in the girls’ 4×100-m freestyle relay.

She joined Niña Gabo, Stacy Bee and Sophia Mallorca in finishing second with a time of 4:27.11.

Montalbo has been steadily building her reputation as one of Bacolod’s promising young swimmers with consistent podium finishes in major competitions.

Her medal performances came after she recently was included in the national training pool under the supervision of the Philippine Finswimming Federation Inc.

Montalbo, a many-time gold medal winner while representing Tay Tung in various competitions, is now regularly training in Metro Manila as part of the pool./ASC, WDJ