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Unang ginto ng Team Philippines, kaloob ni Ruzol sa pole vault
ILAGAN CITY – Sa harap ng daluyong ng mga dayuhang karibal, nagawang mangibabaw ni pole vaulter Maria Khrizzie Clarisse Ruzol tungo sa makasaysayang kampanya sa 14th Southeast Asian Youth Games na nagsimula nitong Sabado sa Ilagan City Sports Complex.
Tinanghal na unang Pinay ang 16-anyos University of Santo Tomas standout na nakapagwagi ng gintong medalya sa torneo nang pagbidahan ang pole vault event sa taas na 2.60 meters.
“It was my first time competing here in the SEA Youth so I was very nervous at first, but that nervousness was replaced with happiness with our win,” pahayag ni Ruzol.
Nakumpleto ng Team Philippines ang 1-2 finish nang bumuntot ang kasangga at matalik na kaibigan na si Jessa Marie Libres.
Nagsanay sa pangangasiwa ni multi-title Emerson Obiena, nagawang maisakatuparan ng pambato ng Navotas City ang minimithing tagumpay sa maagang pagkakataon.
“Limang buwan ko pa lang sinasanay ang sarili ko sa pole vault. Pole vault’s not my first sport. I just started playing this sport five months ago,”pahayag ni University Athletic Association Season 81 juniors’ division gold medalist na sumasabak sa badminton, volleyball bago lumipat sa track and field.
“I guess it’s just a blessing in disguise,” aniya.
Nakihamok, ngunit kinapos sa kanikanilang kampanya ang limang Pinoy athletes na tumapos ng silver medal at apat na bronze medals sa eight-nation tournament na inorganisa ng Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association of the Philippines (PATAFA).
Sumegunda lamang ang Cebuana sprinter na si Princess Jean Nalzaro sa girls 100-meter sa tyempong 15.61 segundo, sa likod ng nagwaging si Thai champion Nattchicha Sengna (15.40s).
“I’m nervous because it’s my first time but the Thai runner was just too good. She’s just too tall,” sambit ng 4-foot-11, 16year-old 2016 Batang Pinoy National Finals campaigner.
Umani naman ng bronze sina Patrick Shane Tolentino (boys high jump), middle distance runner Jeshrelvan Ombid (boys’ 800-meter) at Michael Alfred Adan (boys’ 2000-meter steeplechase).
Hindi naman kinasihan ang liyamadong national youth athlete na si Tara Borlain na nagtamo rin ng bronze sa girls’ 800-meter sa likod nang magkababayan na sina Thi Kim Phuong Le at Thu Quye Nguyen ng Vietnam.
“It was very a tough race because of hot weather and of course, the competitors have more experience,” pahayag ng Palarong Pambansa champion. “It’s a whole different competition from the usual. I was challenged with different rivals and enjoyed the game.”
Target ng 15-anyos pride ng St. Paul College – Pasig City na makabawi sa girls’ 1, 500-meter race. Sasabak naman si Nalzaro kasama ang grupo sa 4x100-meter at 4x400meter relays.
Sa kasalukuyan, nangunguna ang Southeast Asian powerhouse Thailand na may anim na gintong medalya mula kina Peerapat Insuwan (boys’ high jump), Sengna (girls’ 100-m hurldes), Bandit Singhatongkul (boys’ discus throw), Supisara KlinlaOr (girls’ javelin throw) at Athibodee Aointhongyai (boys’ long jump).