By MARK REY MONTEJO
LEGAZPI CITY – University of Cebu’s Mark Mahinay defied heavy rains and won first gold in the 2024 Private Schools Athletics Association (PRISAA) National Games here at Bicol University Sports Complex Monday, July 22.
Despite the wet surface and gloomy weather, the 22-year-old Mahinay topped the men’s 5000m, posting a fast time of 15 minutes and 22.9 seconds – his new personal best – to easily beat teammate Franklin Lee (15:53.4) and Ken Jay Moreto (15:55.7) of Region 12.
Mahinay, a third-year IT student, was thrilled for his latest success as he has been longing to become a part of the national team in the future.
“Masaya po na nakuha po ang target time, natutuwa po ako kasi kahit medyo malakas ‘yong ulan nakaperform pa rin po ako ng maayos,” Mahinay said.
“Sana makapasok sa national team, gusto kong makapasok dun sa future,” he added. “Magandang experience din po talaga kasi ‘yong mga gantong competition para sa amin para mag-improve pa po.”
Up next for the Cebuano trackster are 800m and 1500m on Thursday, July 25, and Friday, July 26.
Sharing the limelight with Mahinay was Justin Luke Lorete who topped the men’s 54kg weightlifting – 80kg in snatch and 90kg in clean and jerk for 170kg total.
Lorete, who is a member of Bohol Weightlifting Association where Paris-bound Vanessa Sarno came from, won his ninth straight medal in his last three PRISAA stints.
“Nakakaproud po, talagang nainspire po kami sa kanya. Sobrang natutuwa po kami dahil hindi lang po ang Bohol ang dala-dala nya ngayon buong Pilipinas na,” Lorete said of Sarno.
SOCCSKSARGEN’s Jastin Fuentes ruled the men’s 50kg after tallying 112 total lifts.
In men’s 5×5 basketball, Western Visayas (Region VI) crushed Cagayan Valley(Region II), 100-68, while CALABARZON (Region IV-A) whipped Western Mindanao (Region IX), 102-72, in the opening day of elimination round.
Host Bicol (Region V), on the other hand, impressed the home fans with a 102-69 annihilation of Northern Mindanao (Region X).
Meantime, Central Visayas flaunted its depth and skills to down Ilocos (Region I), 25-20, 25-9, 25-18, in the women’s volleyball.
