FIRST-TIMER WINS GOLD AT THE PNG

The story of success in sports and in pursuit of education became one of the highlights on Day 1 of competitions in the 2018 Philippine National Games (PNG) yesterday.

Cebuana jumper Ronette Ayuda recorded a personal best of 1.5 meters to win the women’s senior high jump competition in the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC), giving Cebu City its first gold medal in this year’s PNG.

Ayuda’s teammate Kristie Kay Vinco recorded a 1.40m leap to win the silver medal, while Lyka Casta of Baguio City took the bronze medal.

Ayuda, a first-timer in the PNG, will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education major in Physical Education (P.E.) in the University of San Carlos (USC) by the end of the year, thanks to her athletic scholarship.

The 21-year-old Ayuda is a late bloomer in the sport, starting only when she was in third year high school. Her mother died of cancer in 2010 and was not able to witness her join athletics.

Ayuda said that her father, Rommel, had to work three jobs to support her and her sibling. Her father works as a job-order employee in the Municipality of Liloan and as a habal-habal driver and mango farm worker as a sideline.

“I was recruited by coach Arvin Loberanis and Ernest Ybañez to join. I accepted it when I got to college because it was my chance to get an athletic scholarship,” Ayuda told reporters.

“At first, my father did not believe that I can go to college because of athletics. But when I was already in college, he was really supportive,” said Ayuda, the elder of two siblings.

Ayuda said that when she was starting, she looked up to the senior runners and hoped to see herself on the podium in the PNG someday. Her dream came true on her last year as an athletic scholar.

“I want to be part of the national team. If there’s an opportunity, I will grab it,” said the native of Liloan, Cebu after erasing her previous best record of 1.40m. “Winning the gold medal on my first PNG is really unexpected for me.”

Ayuda did not make it to the Palarong Pambansa when she was in high school, but made up for it by winning gold medals in the Private Schools Athletic Association (Prisaa) and now PNG.

Ayuda will take a shot at a second gold in the PNG in the 110m hurdles on Tuesday in the same venue. /