By Calvin D. Cordova
CEBU CITY— A 17-year-old rising star from Lapu-Lapu City sparked an auspicious start by host region Central Visayas by ruling the girls secondary 3,000-meter run to claim the first gold medal of the Palarong Pambansa 2024 on Thursday, July 11, at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Asia Abucay Paraase from Pajo National High School became an instant star for the day – to the cheers of the host region – as she bested the field by clocking a personal-best of 10 minutes and 26 seconds.
Competing in her second Palaro, Paraase disclosed she had to overcome challenges just to make it to this year’s annual competition.
“It’s so hard to get support from the city government. I trained at the Mactan Air Base where the oval is not rubberized. But I just left it all to God and luckily, I won,” Paraase, the eldest in a brood of three, said in vernacular.
Paraase won silver in the competition’s 2023 edition in Marikina City. Her previous best in the event was 10:33 which she established in the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Meet.
The incoming Grade 12 student said the victory was something that she did not expect, fully aware that she was going up against tough rivals.
“I really did not expect this. I consider my opponents as my idols, I look up to them. My mindset was just to do my best. It feels good but this victory is not just for me but also for my coaches and my entire team,” said Paraase.
Paraase also credited her parents for the win. From competing in weekend fun runs to strutting wares in school meets and in the Palaro, Paraase said her parents were always behind her.
“They inspire me to do well,” said Paraase, whose mother used to compete in the CVIRAA Meet.
Region 7 got its second gold of the day – thanks to Troy Nathaniel Abing. Also of Lapu-Lapu City, Abing reigned in the individual single weapon category of the elementary boys arnis event.
Getting a share of the limelight was Central Luzon’s Jyane Kirt Cantor, who pulled off a record-breaking performance in the long jump boys elementary event, leaping to a distance of 6.14 meters. It shattered the old mark of 6.04 meters that was recorded in the 2002 Palaro in Naga, Camarines Sur.
