MAASIN CITY, Leyte, (PNA) — Karen Janario of Leyte Sports Academy-Smart crowned herself the fastest girl in the meet even as she led several others who starred in the track on Friday in the Philippine Sports Commission-Philippine Olympic Committee Batang Pinoy Visayas qualifying leg here.
Fourteen-year-old Janario, a product of a prototype club that takes in students with big athletic potential, stormed to the 100-meter dash victory in 13.05 seconds to pick up her second gold of the meet at the Southern Leyte Sports Complex inside Tomas Oppus Pilot School.
Janario also earlier ruled the 100m hurdles in 15.58 seconds to shine amid Cebu City’s continuous dominance in athletics and other fields.
Host Maasin City, hoping to get recognition in the national sporting scene, secured its second gold of the games after its futsal team defeated Baybay B, 2-0, at the Badian Gym.
Cebu City’s Ivan Miguel Santos and Jrict Ray Talicug each already grabbed two gold medals, even as Palarong Pambansa champion Anjelica de Josef scored a couple of victories on her own.
A 14-year-old from Lezo, Aklan, De Josef became known last year when she set a new Palaro elementary record in 800m running barefoot. On Thursday she added the BP golds in 1,500m and 400m to her growing collection of accolades.
Santos, winner of the meet’s first ever gold last Wednesday didn’t stop till he get another, this time ruling the boys 1,500m. He earlier won 5,000m despite getting sick from hours of sea travel coming here.
Talicug claimed the boys century dash gold, and later the 400m to add up to Cebu City’s gold medal haul which already includes 50 golds, 32 silvers and 14 bronzes so far. Bohol Province is far second in the standings with 22-32-14 tally but it only entered athletes in swimming.
Negros Occidental, which only sent athletes in taekwondo and badminton, stood up against Cebu City in taekwondo held at Massin City gym taking five gold medals. NegOcc gained through Stephanie Marie Lamayo in girls finweight, Kathleen Dinsay in girls flyweight, Julienne Bermeji in girls featherweight, Caroline Espinosa in girls lightweight and John Michael Casana in boys bantam.
Yet Cebu City jins also chalked up five wins courtesy of Kyle John Flores in boys lightweight, Sal Luigi Estrada in boys featherweight, Francis Louise Reyes in boys flyweight, James Louise Callino in boys finweight and Zozen Prajes in girls heavyweight.
Over at Maasin Bus Terminal, LSA sent three boxers into the semifinals namely Ramil Pingol in ant weight, Lester Carl Oledan in minimum weight, and Diether Casida who knocked out Consolacion, Cebu’s Christian Monilar to advance in light mosquito.
Also making the medal round in boxing were local boy Louie Jay Forzado in kiddie weight who will take on Jefre Jiminez of Cebu City; Joseph Novero Jr., of Bacolod City who will face Pingol; Sogod, Southern Leyte’s Shen Kaduyong who moved up to face Oledan; Lloyd Jabes Antoque of Tagbilaran and Seos Vicente of Mandaue City who advanced in powder weight following a third-round TKO win over Wince Bretly Abas of LSA.