by Waylon Galvez
CEBU CITY – Veteran runner Cristabel Martes and young swimmer Nicole Pamintuan pressed their bids for spots in the Asian Games following gold medal victories at the start of the ninth Philippine National Games (PNG) at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Martes, a two-time Southeast Asian Games champion, won the women’s 10,000-meter run, clocking 40 minutes and 11.5 seconds in wet conditions.
“I thank God that I won despite pain in my calf that I sustained during interval training. Of course, I’m no longer getting any younger, this win is truly remarkable,” said Martes who is bidding to regain his spot in the national team.
“I’ve been out of the national team for several years,” said Martes who holds the national record of 34 minutes 40.3 seconds in the event.
Martes, 38, won the women’s marathon in the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur in 2001 and Manila in 2005.
She is also competing.
Martes, who is also set to compete in the women’s 500-meters and 1,500 meters, defeated Ruffa Sorongon of Cebu City (41:16.8) and fellow Baguio City runner Sandi Abahan (44:31.3) who settled for silver and bronze, respectively.
In swimming, Pamintuan, a former Palarong Pambansa stalwart, pocketed three gold medals for Sta. Rosa City.
The 18-year-old Pamintuan clocked 2:32.87 in the 200m individual medley, 1:02.12 in the 100 freestyle and 32.64 seconds in 50m backstroke.
“I want to come up with a strong performance because I really want to play in the Asian Games. If I won’t qualify in the individual events, at least I’m hoping to make it to the relay team,” said Pamintuan.
David Dela Rosa of Las Piñas City clocked 2:23.60 to rule the boys’ 200m individual medley and 28.79 seconds to reign supreme in the 50-meter backstroke; Camilo La Torre of General City clocked 57.87 seconds to dominate boys’ 100-meter freestyle and 18:21.03 to win the boys’ 1,500-meter freestyle; and Kelsey Jaudian of General Santos City notched 10:26.07 to rule the girls’ 800-meter freestyle.
