CEBU City – Hidilyn Diaz capped her returned to the 58-kg class with a bang.
The 27-year-old Diaz lifted 90 kg in the snatch, and 115 kg in the clean and jerk to grab the gold medal in the women’s open competition of the 2018 Philippine National Games weightlifting meet at the Naga City covered courts.
This was Diaz’s best effort after missing action in the 58-kg class for the last two years.
Her feat is below the national clean and jerk record of 123 kg which Diaz set in the 2012 PNG.
“Happy ako. Dahil target ito ni coach (Tony Agustin), said Diaz, who is among five national bets that are being groomed to compete in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.
Fellow Zamboangena Dessa de los Santos took the silver, along with Jane Hipolito, also from Zamboanga.
Zamboanga Province went on to get four golds, two silvers and four bronzes.
Meanwhile, Anfernee Lopena stumbled at the starting block and recovered just in time to grab the gold medal in the junior boys 100-meter sprint finals of the 2018 Philippine National Games athletics meet at the City Sports Complex oval here.
The 23-year-old Lopena, who is seeking a slot with the national team to the Asian Games, caught up with the main pack midway in the race and still came up with a decent clocking of 10.96 seconds.
Lopena could have surpassed his best time of 10.46 seconds if not for his misfortune, but he is still within range of his best performance since the National Open last year.
“Nasubsob ako. Muntik na ako mag false start. Buti na lang at nakahabol,” said Lopena, a member of the national 4×100 meter relay team.
Negros Occidental’s Michael Mana-ay finished second to Lopena in 11.01 seconds, followed in third by William Galceran of Mandaluyong City (11.11 seconds).
Lopena’s contribution gave Team Pilipinas a 4-3-0 gold-silver-bronze total, and they are now in third place in the general medal race.
Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Marco Vilog clocked 1:56.05 in the men’s 800-meter finals for the national team’s fourth gold, with his time around seven seconds off his performance in the Malaysian meet last year.
His rival, fellow national teammate Elbren Neri settled for the silver in 1:57.22.
Overall, General Santos City took the lead in the medal race after snatching two golds in swimming at the City Sports Complex pool and a gold-silver-bronze tally of 6-4-6.
Eighteen-year-old Nino Owen La Torre showed the way for General Santos City after ruling the men’s 400-m individual medley in 5:08.81. Kelsey Claire Jaudian added another one in the women’s side in 5:37.46.
Host Cebu City is close with their 5-9-6 haul after Karen Mae Indaya claimed the women’s 200 meter backstroke honors 2:28.24.
Aries Toledo beat fellow national team member Patrick Unso in a closely fought men’s 110-meter finals, with Toledo getting the gold in 14.52 seconds. Unso, who holds the national mark, was a fraction behind in 14.56 seconds.
Another national team member, Julian Reem Fuentes then prevailed over Toledo in the long jump after clearing 7.56 meters. Toledo finished with 7.5 meter leap.
Cebu City dominated the cycling over in Danao City, with Nino Surban ruling the men’s 25-km cross country event, and Pamela Jane Ruiz topping the 10-km women junior event.
Surban reached the finish line in one hour and 6.34 seconds, beating Marikina City’s Edmhel Flores (1:08.09) and Butuan City’s Cesar Lapaza Jr. (1:09.06).
Ruiz outpaced Nicole Quinones (Quezon) with a 45 minute, 49 second feat.
Koronadal City is in fourth (3-3-0), thanks to swimmers Kevin and Lean Dagum’s 1-2 finish in the men’s 200-meter backstroke finals. Lean has two golds after his conquest of the men’s 100-meter butterfly in 1:03.55.
Tacloban is in fifth with its 3-0-1 total, with Jorie May Amistoso leading the way with a gold in the women’s 100-meter butterfly.
Hans Rommel Caminong added to Tacloban’s efforts in the junior boys discus throw with his 39.49 meter feat. Mandaluyong City’s Tyrone Flores was second (37.8 meters).