SAN JOSE, Antique – Western Visayas’ Kate Julienne Martinez improved the the girls’ discus throw record by more two meters as she emerged as the worthiest performer in the elementary level yesterday in the Palarong Pambansa here.
Martinez, 13, heaved the iron plate to a distance of 35.56 meters to shatter old mark of 33.07m which was established by Bacolod’s Maika De Oro 10 years ago in Tacloban City.
A native of Bago City, Martinez was overwhelmed by his record-ripping effort, saying: “I prepared hard but I did not expect to break the record.”
Irish De Guzman of Cagayan settled for the silver (30.22m) while Jeweliza Sarabosing of Northern Mindanao got the bronze medal (29.65m.)
Archer Maria Ferimi Gleam Bajado of Dumaguete City proved too sharp for her rivals, clinching the gold in the secondary girls’ 30m recurve.
But Bajado’s bid for a golden double was ruined by Caraga’s Charmaine Angela Villamor in the 36-arrow event.
Villamor tallied 318 points to beat out Bajado by three points. Kate Louise Balageo of Caraga took the bronze medal with 311 points.
For sheer drama, Bryan Amir Stevenson of Central Luzon was the day’s toast as he beat Kennyben Gallogo of Caraga and Lloyd Apawan of Central Visayas in a shoot-off for the gold in the 30m secondary boys’ recurve.
Jared Cole Sua of Ilocos later ruled the 50m by beating Gallogo.
In taekwondo, Michael Porras Jr. of Northern Mindanao became the meet’s latest triple gold medalist with victories in the individual boys, team poomsae and mixed pair with Akila Gabrielle Boloto.
Porras teamed up with Lorenzo Daguinotas and Shun Kine Ira in the group event.
Cue artists Romel John Antaran of Zamboanga ruled the boys’ 8-ball while Carmille Buhat of Negros region bagged the gold in the girls event, while the Eastern Visayas region produced three gold medals following wins in freestyle wrestling by Anthony Obias (42kg), Diomel Hugo (46kg) and Anthony Pangan (54kg)