MANILA – Ilongga Aristen Aricela Ardice Dormitorio, representing Quezon City, emerged triumphant in the Girls 13-Under Criterium cycling event of the 2023 Batang Pinoy on Monday at the Tagaytay City Centrum.
The 12-year-old Hope Integrated School student completed the 30-minute, three-lap race with an impressive time of 45 minutes and 48.4 seconds, outpacing eight other competitors.
“Masaya po na nanalo ako ng gold. Meditate and prayers po kasama sa preparation ko,” said Aristen, the younger sibling of MTB (mountain bike) multi-medalist Ariana Dormitorio.
Aristen is also mirroring her older sister Ariana as she transitions from mountain biking to road cycling and is slated to participate in the ITT, MTB XCO, and XCE events to bolster her medal count.
Yvaine Oasias of Tacloban City, meanwhile, settled for a silver medal finish, while Ysabel Nicole Jamero of Iloilo completed the podium finish as she claimed the event’s bronze medal.
Matthew Diaz, the nephew of Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, made his presence felt as he bagged a gold medal in the 12-Under Boys’ 37Kg weightlifting category.
Making his first stint in an organized competition, Diaz lifted 41kg in the snatch and 55kg in the clean and jerk, totaling 96kg and securing Rizal Province’s first gold in the weightlifting event.
“Nakakanerbiyos po kasi unang sali ko pa lamang po. Sinabihan lang po ako ni ate Hidilyn na huwag matakot at isipin ko po na nasa ensayo lang po ako kaya nakayanan ko,” shared the 12-year-old Diaz, mentored by Hidilyn and her husband Julius Naranjo.
Zamboanga City also showcased its dominance in the sport as Adrian Bucol, a Grade 6 student at Zamboanga City National School, lifted a personal best of 103kg (45kg snatch and 58kg clean and jerk) to claim the gold in the 12-Under Boys 32Kg category.
“Pinaghandaan ko po talaga ang makasali dito sa Batang Pinoy,” expressed Bucol, dedicating his gold medal to his parents and aspiring to become an Olympian like his idol, Hidilyn./PN
