Local bet wows Isabela folks Vietnam wins 4 gold medals

ILAGAN, Isabela — High jumper Wally Gacusan made his provincemates proud by capturing one of the country’s first three silver medals even as Vietnam hinted of good things to come with a sizzling start in the 12th Southeast Asian Youth Athletics Championships on a rainyMonday at the City of Ilagan Sports Complex here.

Cheered on by his “kababayans,” the 17-year-old Gacusan, youngest in a brood of two, bagged the boys’ high jump silver with a leap of 1.81 meters.

“Ito yung pinakamataas na medal na nakuha ko kaya masaya po ako at dito ko nakuha,” said the 5-foot-9 Gacusan, whose previous best career was a bronze medal in the 4x100m relay in last year’s Palarong Pambansa in Albay.

Gacusan, a Grade 11 student at the Santa Isabel National High School in Ilagan City, finished second behind Vietnamese Vo Ngoc Long Cao who registered a jump of 2,0 meters.

Muntinlupa’s Janmell Gervacio wound up third in 1.71 meters.

Vietnam emerged as early frontrunner with four gold and two silver medals followed by Indonesia with three gold, one silver and one bronze medals and Thailand with three golds.

Gacusan is likely to receive bonus from Mayor Evelyn Diaz.

Jason Jabol and Bernalyn Bejoy accounted for the two other silver medals for Team Philippines in the boys’ long jump (6.99m) and girls’ 8000m (2 minutes, 16.22 seconds), respectively. Cao’s gold medal feat was overshadowed by the record-breaking victories by compatriots Thu Hang Doan and Thi Khanh Ny Ngo in the girls’ 3000m and girls’ 800m, respectively.

Doan timed 10:18.59 to rip the four-year-old tournament record of compatriot Truong Thi Thuy Kieu (10:34.14) held in Vietnam, while Ngo clocked 2:13.81 to surpass the two-year-old mark of Indonesian Triyani Pamungkas (2:14.46) in Malaysia.

Thi Trang Dang (girls’ javelin throw) won the other gold for Vietnam. The Vietnamese also clinched one silver medal.

Early bronze medalist for Team PH were Nino Azores (boys’ long jump), Marizel Buer (girls’ javelin throw), Veruel Verdadero (boys 100m), Marisol Amarga (girls’ 800m), and Eduard Josh Buenavista (boys’ 3000m).

Later in the day, Manila bet Eliza Cuyom added another silver for Team PH after timing 15.78 sec behind Malaysian gold winner Karmentna Quadra (15.02sec) in the girls' 100m hurdles. cash

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