Evangelene Caminong of Dasmarinas City clears the bar in the high jump event of the girls heptathlon during the Ayala Philippine Athletics Championships in Ilagan City, Isabela on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of PATAFA)
ILAGAN CITY, ISABELA -- Dasmariñas City's Evangelene Caminong has set a new Philippine record in girls high jump on Saturday, the day she collected her second gold medal in the Ayala Philippine Athletics Championships at the Ilagan Sports Complex here.
The 17-year-old Caminong, who is coached by Fernando Dagasgas, registered 1.71 meters on her second attempt in the high jump event of the heptathlon, erasing the old mark of 1.69 meters set by Kaylene Mosqueda during the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)-Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) Weekly Relay held on Oct. 23, 2016 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
"My coach told me to do my best in every competition," said the 5-foot-5 Caminong, who has a personal best of 1.68 meters.
"I dedicate this victory to my family and to my coach," said the incoming Grade 12 student at the National University.
Caminong, who studied at the Dasmariñas East Integrated High School, said she wants to be like many-time champion Elma Muros, a multi-medalist in the Southeast Asian Games and a contemporary of Lydia de Vega, dubbed as Asia's sprint queen.
"I also dream of joining the national team," said Caminong, who hails from San Vicente town in Palawan.
Caminong topped the long jump event in 5.23 meters, beating Run Rio-UP Team's Mary Grace Manunbale (5.20 meters) and National University's Yaneh Alanan (5.08 meters).
Caminong claimed her first gold medal on Friday in the high jump event.
RP Team-City of Ilagan's John Albert Mantua likewise grabbed his second gold medal when he ruled the men's discus throw in 46.45 meters. He won the shot put event on Thursday.
Rogelio Borja, also representing RP Team-City of Ilagan, bagged the men's discus throw silver medal in 37.65 meters while La Union's Mark Anthony Talisay won the bronze medal in 36.18 meters.
The other gold winners were Run Rio-UP Team's Mark Anthony Diones (men's triple jump) and Lambert Padua (men's 20,000-meter walk); Philippine Army's Rosie Villarito (women's javelin throw) and Team Titus bet Carlos de Imus (boys 5,000-meter walk).
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army's Marestella Sunang, Philippine Air Force's Arniel Ferrera and RP Team-City of Ilagan's Aira Teodosio were also crowned champions in the tournament organized by PATAFA and supported by MILO, LTime Studio, Soleus, Cocolife, UCPB Gen, Foton, Cherrylume, PSC, IAAF, Rebisco and F2 Logistics.
The two-time Olympian Sunang won the women's long jump gold medal in 6.16 meters. University of Baguio's Felyn Dolloso got the silver in 5.39 meters while Adamson University's Joanna Ebal took the bronze in 5.30 meters.
Ferrera, a consistent medalist in the Southeast Asian Games, topped the men's hammer throw event in 52.84 meters. Run Rio-UP Team's Fel Vincent Quetulio bagged the silver in 39.45 meters while his teammate, Emilo Lorenzo Florendo clinched the bronze in 38.56 meters.
Teodosia won the women's hammer throw gold in 42.53 meters while Run Rio-UP Team's Reah Joy Sumalpong pocketed the silver medal in 37.20 meters.
Dasmarinas City clinched two gold medals coming from Veruel Verdadero and Jessel Lumapas, while San Beda University got one courtesy of Jhon Rafael Lamatan.
Verdadero won the boys 200 meters event in 22.34 seconds while University of Santo Tomas bet Jerome Sarinas got the silver in 22.50 meters and Run Rio-UP Team's Kenneth Corpuz bagged the bronze in 22.79 meters.
Lumapas ruled the girls 200 meters event in 25.71 seconds, beating Cantafa-Camarines Norte's Divina Mahusay (25.80) and Run Rio-UP Team's Riza Jane Dupalco (25.83).
Lamatan won the boys shot put event in 14.01 meters, Run Rio-UP Team's Gilbert Tasi posted 13.71 meters for second place and San Beda University-Manila's John Roel Sariola placed third in 13.69 meters.
Ateneo de Manila University dominated the decathlon event in the men's and boys’ categories. Henry Gonzales garnered 5464 points to win the medal in the men's category over Tuguegarao City's Lucky Boy Guzman, who had 3477 points.
In the boys’ category, Mark Matthew Operario tallied 5238 points to take the gold medal, beating fellow Atenean, Sandi Sionco (5011) and Cantafa-Camariness Norte's Virgilio Galicia Jr. (4842).
In the 4x400-meter mixed relay event, Adamson University's Ria Judyawon, Raziebel Fabellon, Jeric Gaceta and Alex Talledo won the gold in 3 minutes and 55.69 seconds. Philippine Army's Racel Dardillo, Criselyn Jaro, Ailene Tolentino and Aris Africa got the silver in 4:03.06.
The winners in the Masters men's 200-meter event were Philippine Army's Midel Dique (35-39 years old), Rodrigo Tanuan Jr. (40-44 years old), Team Iskolar-Calamba City's Yourke Tamayo (30-34 years old), and Sabah Malaysia Team's Diman Maulani (50-54 years old).
In the Masters women's 200 meters event, the gold medalists were Honeyjoy Salaysay (Unaffiliated) in the 30-34 years old category, and Elenita Punela (Soleus L-Timestudio) in the 45-49 years old category. (PNA)
