VIGAN, Ilocos Sur – Western Visayas bagged its first gold medal in the 61st Palarong Pambansa in record fashion on Monday at the Quirino Stadium.
Ann Katherine Quitoy shattered the record in secondary girls javelin throw with 45.72m. The previous record was 42.85m, done by Sylvian Faith Abunda of Region 10 last year in San Jose, Antique.
“To be honest, I did not expect that I will be able to break the record,” said the Romanito Maravilla High School product. “I am just happy that my hard work in training paid off. Breaking the record was just a bonus.”
Abunda, who defeated Quitoy for the gold medal last year, settled for a silver medal with 41.28m. Marizel Buer of Region 12 bagged the bronze medal with 39.44m.
As of 6 p.m. on Monday, Western Visayas is third in the medal tally with one gold, two silver and two bronze medals. NCR and Region 2 occupied the first two slots with two golds each.
Ilonggas Rhealyn de Costa and Hannah Ahlea Apdo settled for silver and bronze in elementary girls shot put with 10.11m and 9.79m, respectively. Rashied Faith Burdeos of Region 2 claimed the gold with 10.13m.
Gerevil John Gacita of Guimaras claimed the silver medal in elementary boys triple jump with 11.35m. Adrian Samudio of NCR won the gold with 11.46m.
Grace Tejones of Negros Occidental finished with bronze in secondary girls 3000m run with 10.52.99 seconds behind Leslie de Lima of Region 5 (10.06.54 seconds) and Camila Tubiano of Region 10 (10.07.07).
Jan Lawrence Pabliod fell short of getting a medal after finishing fourth in secondary boys long jump while Kent Dormido and Charlie Tiano placed last in secondary boys javelin throw./PN
