ILAGAN CITY—A farmer’s son from Barangay Santa Isabel Norte here got the silver medal in boy’s high jump on the first day of the 12th SEA Youth Games at the City of Ilagan Sports Complex.
Wally Gacusan, a 17-year-old student of Santa Isabel National High School who was chosen to play for the Philippines-llagan City team, did his hometown proud after landing in second place as he tallied 1.81 meters, while compatriot Janmell Francis Gervacio settled for the bronze medal with 1.70 meters.
Vietnam’s Vo Ngoc Long Cao grabbed the gold with a record of 2.0 meters.
“I am happy with my performance, although I could have done better if not for the knee injury I suffered during training four days before this tournament,” said Gacusan in Filipino.
“This is my first international competition. I know the best players are here so I really gave my best,” added Gacusan, the youngest son of a corn farmer in the agricultural barangay of Sta. Isabel Norte here.
With Gacusan’s impressive performance, the Philippines barged into the fourth spot of the medal tally with three silvers and six bronze medals after the early morning action.
Vietnam, which registered two of the four new records, is on top with four gold medals, while Indonesia and Thailand are tied with three mints apiece.
Also making his presence felt in this tourney presented by the City of Ilagan and sponsored by Ayala Corporation with Milo, Philippine Sports Commission and International Amateur Athletics Federation as co-presentor and Foton Pilipinas, UCPB Gen and Run Rio as minor sponsors, was Eduard Josh Buenavista, the son of local track legend Eduardo Buenavista.
Mayor Evelyn C. Diaz announced Monday noon that if anyone among the 32 Ilagan athletes participating in the 12th SEA Youth and the 2017 National Open would get a medal, she will give P10,000 incentive for gold, P8,000 for silver, and P5,000 for bronze.
The opening ceremonies of the 12th SEA Youth games on Sunday night drew over 5,000 people at the City of Ilagan Sports Complex, while thousands more were seated in bleachers located in other parts of the facility.
The Department of Education has organized cultural presentations performed by dance troupes of selected high schools of Ilagan City. The audience loudly cheered the group who performed the Tinikling folk dance of the Philippines. Traditional dances of eight other participating countries were also presented.
In her speech, DepEd Regional Director Estela Cariño emphasized the role of sports in molding the youth. Cariño proudly acknowledged the DepEd Division of Isabela for having sports as a formal education track.
Mayor Diaz proudly announced to the world Ilagan City’s readiness to be a major sports hub among Asean countries.
“We believe that sports can enrich our lives and help us prepare for the challenges of the future. And as early as your age, our dear athletes, you, the youth must be educated how sports can strengthen our bond as one Southeast Asian Community,” Diaz said in her speech.
The formal opening program was capped by a 5-minute fireworks’ display and the lighting of the ceremonial torch. It was followed by a variety show featuring celebrities Paolo Avelino and Christine Reyes which sustained the audience until 9 p.m.
Medal Tally
(As of 12 noon)
Vietnam 4-1-0
Indonesia 3-1-1
Thailand 3-0-0
Philippines 0-3-6
Singapore 0-2-1
Malaysia 0-2-0
Timor Leste 0-1-0
Brunei 0-0-0
ILAGAN CITY – The gold medal remains elusive, but a hometown bet provided a ray of sunshine in the opening salvo of the 12th Southeast Asian Youth Athletics Championship Monday at the Ilagan City Sports Complex in this bustling city.
Wally Gacusan plucked the silver medal in the boys’ high jump event to shift the host country’s campaign to full swing in this prestigious tourney that serves as final tryouts for members of the national squad that will see action in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur this August.
A 17-year old student at Isabela National High School, Gacusan tallied 1.81 meters while compatriot Janmell Francis Gervacio settled for the bronze medal with 1.70 meters, pushing Vo Ngoc Long Cao on top of the podium with a record of 2.0 meters for the gold medal.
Gacusan said he is satisfied over his performance in this tourney where the future stars of the SEA Games are seeing action.
“I am happy with my performance, although I could have done better if not for the knee injury I suffered during training four days before this tournament,” said Gacusan in Filipino. “This is my first international competition. I know the best players are here so I really gave my best.”
Ilagan City Mayor Evelyn Diaz extended her warm congratulations to Gacusan, who is the youngest son of a corn farmer in the agricultural barangay of Sta. Isabel Norte here.
She vowed to provide cash incentives to hometown athletes who will emerge in the medal podium of this tourney and the 2017 Ayala Philippine National Open Invitational Athletics Championships, which unwraps on Thursday. Gold medalists will get P10,000, silver medalists will receive P8,000 and bronze medalists will take home P5,000.
With Gacusan’s impressive performance, the Philippines barged into the fourth spot of the medal tally with three silver and six bronze medals after the early morning action. Vietnam, which registered two of the four new records, is on top with four gold medals while Indonesia and Thailand are tied with three mints apiece.
Also making his presence felt in this tourney that is presented by the City of Ilagan and sponsored by Ayala Corporation with Milo, Philippine Sports Commission and International Amateur Athletics Federation as co-presentor and Foton Pilipinas, UCPB Gen and Run Rio as minor sponsors is Eduard Josh Buenavista, the son of local track legend Eduardo Buenavista.
The 15-year old Buenavista bucked an injured right thigh as he tallied nine minutes and 25.85 seconds run to claim the bronze medal in the boys’ 3,000-meter run.
Hendrik Marlyonda of Indonsia plucked the gold meal in record-breaking fashion as he clocked 9:07.36 while Syed Hussein Aljuneid of Singapore settled for the silver medal with 9:10.98.
“I’m not yet satisfied. I feel I could have done better,” said Buenavista, a 15-year old student from Baguio National Science High School who claimed the silver medal in the 6th Children of Asia last year in Yakutst, Russia.
“I fell on the stairs three days ago so I can feel the pain on my right thigh. Pero hindi ko na lang po pinansin. Ang mahalaga ay makatakbo ako ng maayos.”
Also coming up with golden finishes in the opening day were Namee Satapor of Thailand in the boys’ long jump, Thi Trang Dang of Vietnam in the girls’ javelin throw, Jeany Nurauni Amelia Agreta of Indonesia in the girls’ 100-meter run, Kittipoom Khotsara of Thailand in the boys’ 100-meter run, Thi Kanh Ny Ngo of Vietnam in the girls’ 800-meter run, Wempy Pelomania of Indonesia in the boys’ 800-meter run, Jakkapat Noisri of Thailand in the boys’ discuss throw event, and Thu Hang Doan of Vietnam in the girls 3,000-meter run.