TAGUM CITY—Cyclists Joseff Miguel Quirino and Moira Frances Erediano grabbed the first pair of gold medals in the Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy National Championships here.
Quirino, a 13-year-old from Malaybalay, Bukidnon nosed out Olongapo City’s Clifford Pusing for the gold in the boys’ 13-14 criterium race after both riders crossed the line in exactly 10 minutes. Davao City’s Christian Acedo got the bronze in 10:06.
“I have been riding my bike since I was five, but this is the first time that I raced competitively,’’ said Grade 7 student from San Isidro College in Malaybalay.
Just like Quirino, Erediano is also a triathlete, who used the competition as part of her training for the swim-bike-run event.
The 13-year-old from Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu clocked 11:40 in completing the eight-kilometer course on the wide roads of Tagum City Hall.
Second-placer Jeana Mariel Canete of Cebu province and Bukidnon’s Alexie Guiburan, who checked in third, both arrived at the same time, 1:21 behind the winner.
“I only started riding my bike last year and won for the first time,’’ said Erediano, who is also entered in girls’ triathlon today.
Erediano, a Grade 6 pupil at Sacred Heart-Ateneo de Cebu, placed second in the IronKids in Lapu-Lapu City last August.
Jose Emmanuel of Lipa City won the gold in the boys’ 14-15 criterium race in 13:01 and Genesis Marana of San Jose, Nueva Ecija ruled the girls’ 14-15 event with a time of 14:34.
The 15-year-old Marana, cousin of former Tour of Luzon campaigners Ariel and Dominador Marana, also won the girls’ 17-under event in 23 minutes and 30 seconds to become the first double gold medalist of the Games.
She defeated Olongapo City’s Veronica Deldio (23:32) and Karen Manayon of Cebu (same time).
Emmanuel defeated Bryan Cantomayor (13:02) and Godwin Jacob Taylor of Malaybalay City (13:02) in the boys’ 14-15, while Marana topped Myra Regina Acedo and Karen Manayon of Cebu, who both clocked 14:39, in the girls’ 14-15.
Medal-rich swimming, which was supposed to stake 24 gold medals on the first day of competition, was postponed along with several other events to give way to yesterday’s opening ceremony at the Davao Del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex here.
Davao del Norte governor Anthony Del Rosario led the opening rites of the weeklong sports conclave for athletes 17-year-old and under, along with Philippine Sports Commission Chair William Ramirez and Philippine Olympic Committee representative Romeo Magat.
A total of 9,600 athletes from all over the country will compete in 26 sports.
Also gracing the opener were PSC commissioners Celia Kiram and Charles Maxey, PSC executive director Carlo Abarquez, Batang Pinoy overall project director Ronnel Abrenica and project manager Dr. Lauro Domingo.