TRACKSTERS SHINE
Former Davao City standouts from different colleges and universities collect medals in the 2018 AFP-PNP Olympics
Former Davao City track stars continue to shine in the Big City after collecting gold, silver and bronze medals in the just-concluded 2018 AFP-PNP Olympics athletics competition at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City.
The Philippine Army amassed a total of 327 points to rule the competition over Philippine Air Force (326), Philippine Coast Guard (95) and Philippine National Police (94) who grabbed the next three places.
Private First Class (PFC) Criselyn Jaro, who used to play for Brokenshire College, helped PA win the women's 4X400-meter relay gold medal on top of sweeping silvers in women's 3,000m and 1,500m runs.
Jaro's sisters Airwoman First Class Cynthia and Airwoman Second Class Cellie Rose of PAF also shared the limelight. Cynthia got a silver in women's 5,000m while Cellie Rose annexed a women's 4X400 relay silver and women's 3,000m steeplechase bronze.
AW1C Merasol Abad annexed a gold in women's 10,000m and a silver in women's 5,000m.
Bemedaled ex-University of Mindanao (UM) varsity runner Sonny Wagdos, an Airman Second Class (A2C) of the PAF, also accounted for two silvers in men's 5,000m and 1,500m events while A2C Michael Constantino bagged a men's 4X400m relay gold and an 800m bronze.
Former Brokenshire College decorated long distance specialist A2C Anthony Nerza also clinched silvers in men's 3,000m and 10,000m.
PAF Sergeant Roel Ano, who hails from Calinan, pocketed a bronze in men's 10,000m.
Meanwhile, PO1 Philip Ocon, former Holy Cross of Davao College standout, and PO2 MelQuedez Escuerdo lifted Team PNP to a bronze finish in men's 4X400m relay event.
Ano, in a Facebook interview, said Dabawenyos have not stopped competing even while they serve in different agencies under the Armed Forces of the Philippines or Philippine National Police.
"Mga gahi gihapon taga Dabaw (Dabawenyos remain forces to reckon with)," Ano added.
A2C Rafael Poliquit of Tagum City, for his part, salvaged the men's 10,000m bronze. /