NATIONAL YOUTH GAMES-BATANG PINOY Koronadal archer lands 6 golds

TAGUM, Davao del Norte – Archer John Carlo Loreno of Koronodal City and tanker John Alexander Talosig of North Cotabato went on a gold medalharvesting spree yesterday in their respective sports in the 2019 Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy at the DavNor Sports and Tourism Complex here.

Loreno, 15, teamed up with Precious Micah Basadre in besting Compostela Valley’s Mysel Magallanes and Andrea Tagotongan, 2459-2073, and copping the cadet mixed team gold in archery to hike his total to a whopping six gold medals.

The Grade Nine student at Koronadal National Comprehensive High School also had golden performances in the 30m, 40m, 50m, 60m, and single fita the day before, and will have a chance to win another one in today’s Olympic round where he is a heavy favorite.

Loreno has improved on his fourgold haul in last year’s Mindanao leg in Oroquieta.

“I’m happy my hard work has paid off,” said Loreno.

Talosig, for his part, splashed his way to four golds at the pool after he reigned supreme in the 400m individual medley for boys 15-and-under in five minutes and .58 second as well as the 200m freestyle in 2:05.43.

The Southern Christian College eightgrader, who copped a pair of golds in the 200m individual medley and 1500m freestyle the day before, had an opportunity to scoop up a fifth mint but his 200m medley relay team of Rusty Ceasar Ladra, Isidore Warain and Kyruss Toledo wound up third behind eventual winners Theo Ituralde, Albren Dayapdapan, Leonardo Dalman III and Chaun Zion Nacaytuna of Dipolog.

Talosig later said he was surprised of his medal haul.

“The competition was strong and it was really unexpected I could win this much,” said Talosig.

In centerpiece athletics, Rona Bacus of Cagayan de Oro registered 11.01 meters on her sixth and final leap to pocket the triple jump mint ahead of Jonalyn Florida of Iligan with 9.75m and Jezhel Castro of Tacurong with 9.71m.

In karatedo, Zamboanga City’s Jullian Pueblo bested Christian John Borongan of Calamba, Misamis Occidental to capture the boys’ intermediate kata gold.

In sepak takraw, General Santos’ Baby Jean Cabaluna, Jhira Morgado, April Joy de Leon and Jessa Mae Pausal took the team regu event gold ahead of Davao del Norte’s Dona Michaela Balista, Rica Lemoneras, Lady Mary Jean Pitos and Mary Anne Andres.