Kidapawan runners shine in BKTLeague
KIDAPAWAN runners ruled the first leg of the 2017-2018 Blue Knights Track League Season 4 by collecting 13 gold medals Saturday at the Fr. Martinez Sports Center Track Oval at the Ateneo de Davao University (Addu) in Matina, Davao City.
Joy Precious Velarde paced the Kidapawan runners with four golds (17-above women's 100-meter dash, 400m run, 200m dash and 4x100m relay) while Kenmar Alolosan added three golds (17-above men's 200m, event, 17 years old and above women's 200m event, and 13 to 16 years old boy's 4x100m relay event.
Other gold medalists were Yasharah Daligdig (13 to 16 years old girl's 1,500m), Angel Capentero (1,500 men 17 years old and above, 17 years old and above men's 800m), Pelrio Jumawan (13 to 16 years old boy's 200m) Renz Ivan Bolano and co. (12 years old and below boy's 4x100m relay) and Elaine Dela Peña and co. (12 years old and below boy's 4x100m relay).
Koronadal City, meanwhile, got 11 golds with lead performer
Rhea Rose Balbaguio who topped the girls 12-below 1,500m and 800m events.
Melvar Tan (boys 12-below 1,500m, 800m), Sweet Joy Pantaleon (girls 13-16 400m, 4x100m relay), Raul Payon (boys 13-16 400m, boys 800m), Christine Mae Garde (girs 12-below 400m), Lara Gayramara (girls 13-16 800m) and Gerard Dave Constantino (boys 13-16 boys 1,500m) also won golds.
Ashanttie Amaneo of Addu Blue Knights, for her part, governed the girls 12-below 100m and 200m as teammate Franz Kenji Vilela ruled the men's 17-above 400m.
The rest of the champions: Justine Taub (boys 12-below 100m) and Bernie Lastra (boys 12-below 400m) of Panabo City; Hazel Gulbone (girls 13-16 100m, 200m) of Tagum Comprehensive National High School; Jay-ar Baya (boys 13-16 100m) of Hagonoy National High School; Brix Allen Bordios (boys 12-below 200m) of Magugpo Tagum City and Gino Dogoldogol and company (boys 17-below 4x100m relay) of Rizal Memorial Colleges.
Roop also also fielded potential runners from barangay Maa and Langub who joined the annual trackfest presented by the Ateneo de Davao University Athletics.
Roop is an advocacy spearheaded by 1972 Australian Olympian and former World No. 5 in men's 5,000 meters Tony Benson, who is also the long-time coach of Filipino Olympian Hector Begeo, to scout for potential athletes from public elementary schools and engage them to running.
Roop runners was assisted by Triathlon Association of the Philippines (Trap) board member Eustaquio "Stax" Savellano during the event.