Gumban, Bacus best rivals in BPinoy athletics opener

TAGUM CITY: Aaron Gumban and Rona Bacus ruled the opening day of athletics competition of the Batang Pinoy 2019 Mindanao qualifying leg at the Davao Del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex here on Thursday.

Gumban, representing Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte, won the gold medal in the boys’ 13-15 5,000-meter run with a time of 17:14 beating Lordy Salpid of General Santos (19:05) and Romie Laviste of Hagonoy, Davao del Sur (19:12).

“I woke up at three in the morning confident of winning and at the same, excited,” the 14-year-old Gumban told reporters in Filipino. Gumban also won a gold medal in the steeplechase and a bronze in the 5,000-meter run in the recent Davao Regional Athletic Association meet.

Bacus, of Cagayan De Oro City, posted 11.01 meters to dominate the girls’ 13-15 triple jump beating Jonalyn Florida of Iligan (9.75 meters) and Geziel Castro of Tacurong (9.71 meters).

“I want to become a member of the national team; it’s my dream. I’m so thankful to my trainer and family for inspiring me to win,” said Bacus, a 2016 Palarong Pambansa gold medalist in the triple jump and a bronze medalist in the long jump.

Mary Joy Mancera of Davao del Sur registered 26.28 meters in the 13-15 girls’ discus throw to outclass Avril Saucejo of Mati City (23.49) and Kristal Molina of Davao City (19.85).

In archery, Koronadal’s John Carlo Loreno bagged his sixth gold medal alongside partner Precious Micah Basadre after ruling the cadet mixed team event.

Loreno and Basadre combined for 2459 points to defeat Compostela Valley’s Mysel Magallanes and Andrea Tagotongan (2073) and Digos City’s Christian Malunes and Angela Camello (1035).