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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Ageless Martes grabs first gold in 2018 PNG

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CEBU City – Cristabel Martes showed that age is just a number.

A hurting right calf muscle and an early morning rain shower slowed her down.

But with no challengers to test her, the 38-year-old Martes dominated the women’s 10,000 meter run and took home the first gold medal in the 9th Philippine National Games Sunday at the Cebu City Sports Complex track oval here.

The former national team member from La Trinidad, Benguet, slogged her way through the wet rubberized track surface in 40 minutes and 11.5 seconds to hand Baguio City one of its first two gold medals.

 “Susunod lang sana ako sa pace. Pero, walang lumalaban. So, nag-proceed na ako hanggang finish line. Maganda pa rin ang aking result kahit may nararamdaman ako sa right calf ko,” said Martes.

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Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte doubled the cash prize for the 2018 Philippine National Games, raising the reward for the overall champion from P5 million to P10 million.

Duterte said he will match the prizes for the winning teams. This means the runner up will get P8 million (from P4 million), the third placer will receive P6 million, while the 4th and 5th placers will get P4 million and P2 million, respectively.

“I am confident that the participants will demonstrate teamwork and camaraderie as they compete with each other. These principles are essential in forming an active citizenry that is capable of steering the Philippines toward a better and more prosperous future,” the President said.

Duterte likewise called on the young athletes to support his administration’s campaign against criminality, corruption and illegal drugs.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte flashes his signature closed fist with Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez, Education Secretary Leonor Briones, Secretary Bong Go of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President and PSC personnel during the opening ceremony of the Philipine National Games at the Cebu City Sports Complex on May 19. Presidential photo

 “Sports is an effective avenue to instill discipline in our youth to keep [them] away from these societal ills,” he said.

Sta. Rosa City of Laguna leads the medal race with three golds after UAAP MVP honoree Nicole Meah Pamintuan topped her events.

General Santos City has three golds and four bronzes in second spot, and they got a lift from Camilo La Torre of General City clocked 57.87 seconds to dominate boys’ 100-meter freestyle and 18:21.03 to win the boys’ 1,500-meter freestyle.

Baguio City is now in third in the medal race with their 2-0-2 gold-silver-bronze haul.

Martes’ time was more than five minutes slower than the national record of 34:40.02 which she set way back in the 2001 National Open.

No one challenged her when she broke off from the main pack in the fourth lap of the 22-lap, 400-meter oval.

Teammate Ruffa Sorongon of Cebu City grabbed the silver in 41:16.8, followed by teammate Sandi Abahan (44:31.3). With Joyce Pangco Pañares

Kelsey Jaudian of General Santos City notched 10:26.07 to rule the girls’ 800-meter freestyle.   

The 18-year-old Pamintuan, a former Palarong Pambansa standout, ruled the girls’ 200-meter individual medley, 100-meter freestyle and 50-meter backstroke to emerge as the most bemadalled athlete in the early stages of the meet.

Pamintuan finishes in 2:32.87 in the 200-meter individual medley before clocking 1:02.12 in the 100-meter freestyle and 32.64 seconds in the 50-meter backstroke.

On the other hand, Martes is seeking two more golds medals and podium finishes when she joins senior women’s 1,500-meter and 5,000-meter runs in the coming days of this week-long meet.

This serves as her preparation in trip to Jeju Island in South Korea next Sunday for the 23rd Jeju International Tourism Marathon Festival 2018 at the Gujwa Life Sports Park.

Atienza, who has been with the national squad for more than a decade, heaved 12.25 meters in the senior women’s shot put event. De Borja ruled in the senior men’s division with his 12.49 meter effort.

Ayuda claimed the senior women’s high jump gold after clearing 1.50 meters with Kristie Kay Vinco of Cebu City and Lyka Casta settling for the silver and bronze medal with the same marks of 1.40 meters.

In other swimming events for the day, David Dela Rosa of Las Pinas City tallied 2:23.60 to rule the boys’ 200-meter individual medley and 28.79 seconds to reign supreme in the 50-meter backstroke.

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