VIGAN, Ilocos Sur – After a relatively slow haul the first few days, Western Visayas made a splash in gold medals with strong performances in athletics and taekwondo on Day 4 of the 61st Palarong Pambansa.
Franz Gela Romualdo Bintad shattered an eight-year record done by a fellow Negrense in secondary girls discus throw Wednesday at the Quirino Stadium.
Bintad, a native of Escalante City, Negros Occidental, uncorked a 36.28m hit to break the record set by Bacolod City native Maika de Oro in the 2010 Palaro in Tarlac.
“I am still overwhelmed,” Bintad told Panay News. “All I prepared for is just to improve my runner-up finish last year (in San Jose, Antique), but breaking the Palaro record is a huge achievement.”
As of 6:30 p.m. Wednesday WV was on fourth place in the medal tally with 13 gold, 18 silver and 23 bronze medals behind defending champion NCR (26-16-12), Region 4-A (15-16-25) and Region 12 (14-12-13).
Ilonggas Hannah Ahlea Apdo and Rhealyn de Costa scored a 1-2 finish in elementary girls discus throw, with the former finishing with 31.73m while the latter had 31.29m.
Bacolodnon Krisha Dedoyco Aguillon, on the other hand, was hailed the fastest elementary girl after topping the 100m dash in 13.04 seconds. Teammate LG Shaire Baylon ended up with a bronze medal with 13.23 seconds.
Finishing with silver medals were Trexie dela Torre in secondary girls triple jump, Bernalyn Bejoy in secondary girls 100m hurdles and Vince Jayson Buhayan in secondary boys 100m dash.
Ending up with bronze medals were Cherrylyn Santiago in elementary girls 400m hurdles, John Paul Balsote in elementary boys 400m hurdles, Kirk Aisne Caldeo in secondary boys shot put, and Ritchie Estampador in secondary boys 3000m steeple chase.
WV also nabbed golds in taekwondo with Angelie Marie Perillo and Arielle Amie Beronio ruling in elementary poomsae, and Mervon Shane Nicor and Lianne Evette Sabando topping kyorugi.
The delegation’s lone silver came from Julio Miguel Zapata in elementary poomsae, while Perillo, Beronio and Niesha Kariz Pequierda in team poomsae and Beronio and Zapata in mixed pair won bronze.
Also winning gold medals in Day 4 are Hannah Erica Magluyan in 8-ball billiards and Carl Wayne Reyes, Jeremy Tanedo and Kyle Tiron Anyo in elementary arnis team double identical weapon.
WV had a dismal performance in swimming, settling for silver and bronze medals. Star tanker Kyla Soguilon of Aklan settled for a bronze in secondary girls backstroke.
Finishing with silver medals were Alexi Cabayaran in elementary girls freestyle, Regan Joseph Garbanzos in elementary boys freestyle, Alexander Quiton in elementary boys butterfly and elementary boys relay team. Earl John Dublas had bronze in secondary boys backstroke.
In gymnastics, Allysa Chavez ended up with silver medals in individual all-around and best in vault while settling for bronze medal finishes in best in exercise and best in single bar.
WV also had bronze medals courtesy of Angel Suede, Janelle Tanedo and Khea Mae Valenzuela in team double identical weapon and espada y daga team; Jessie Mae Beso, Laica Mae Mateo and Mariyah Keziah Sumiran in double weapon and espada y daga; Dirk Atillano, Rex David Castronuevo, Alain Dominguez, and Brent Remaneses in table tennis, and elementary girls doubles Nicole Gaspar and Leslie Dizon./PN
