CamSur bet wins first gold, Baguio starts retention quest

DESPITE the effects left by Typhoon Ompong, the Batang Pinoy National Championships 2018 kicked off with

Camarines Sur bet Mary Grace Joson winning the first gold medal I track and field.

Joson, a 15-year-old Grade 9 student of Camsur Sports Academy, bested her rivals in the girls discus throw after posting 26.87m on her second attempt at the Baguio Athletic Bowl.

“Masaya po ako sa panalo ko,” said Joson, who qualified after finishing third in the Luzon leg held in Vigan, Ilocos Sur late last year.

Janine Ledina of Zambales Province heaved 26.64m to settle for silver while Althea Guadalupe of General Santos took home the bronze in 26.54m.

In swimming, four tankers made their presence felt after each scooping two gold medals on the first day of action.

Roz Ciaralene Encarnacion of Laguna Province captured the girls 12-nder 200-meter individual medley in 2 minutes and 40.97 seconds and then went back to rule the girls 12-under 50m breaststroke in 37.33sec.

Encarnacion, a 13year-old student from Alaminos Integrated National High School, guns for her third gold when she competes in the 200m breast. She still has two events tomorrow in 200m free and 100m breast.

Lucena City’s Markus Johannees De Kam dominated the boys 12-under 100m freestyle (59.11sec) and the 50m backstroke (32.27sec) while teammate Mervien Jules Mirandilla won in the boys 13-15 100m free (58.38sec) and 100m butterfly (59.92sec).

Althea Michel Baluyot of Quezon City also took centerstage by prevail-

ing in the girls 13-15 100m free (1:01.16) and 100m fly (1:06.98).

Meanwhile, Baguio City remains optimistic of its chances of retaining the over-all title in the annual sports competition for children 15 – years-old and below.

City sports coordinator Gaudencio Gonzales said Baguio is expected to reap medals in combative sports such as arnis, taekwondo, wushu,wrestling, and karatedo, including the medal rich athletics and archery.

“Sa combative sports pa rin tayo malakas but we are looking at other sports to excel gaya ng futsal, hopefully they will also be in the medal race,” said, Gonzales.

The Summer Capital is fielding close to 700 athletes in the 28 sports events

Mayor Mauricio Domogan earlier said Baguio City athletes must prove their worth in the ongoing Batang Pinoy games and defend their home court and the title in the national competition.

“We encourage our athletes to excel in the different sports disciplines where they will participate so that our city will be able to defend its crown as the defending champion of the Batang Pinoy national games,” Domogan stressed.

Benguet meanwhile is fielding 188 athletes who will be competing in various sports disciplines that will be played in Baguio and Benguet during the week-long sports competition.