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Cagayan high schooler shatters Palarong Pambansa long jump mark
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Julian Fuentes of Cagayan Valley shattered a 10-year Palarong Pambansa mark in secondary boys’ long jump at the start of the annual sportsfest Sunday at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center.
Fuentes registered a new Palarong Pambansa record on his fifth attempt with a 7.26 meters distance to snare the gold medal in Day One of the competition.
His new mark erased the previous record of Paulo Martinez of 7.15 meters set in the 2002 edition in Naga City.
“Masaya kasi last year silver lang ako,” said Fuentes, who is now being eyed by different colleges in Manila. “Sana manalo pa ng gold.”
Fuentes is also scheduled to compete in the triple jump and high-jump events.
The 5-foot-9 native of Cordon, Isabela gave Region II its first gold medal in the competition and his triumph ended the domination of Western Visayas.
Finishing second to Fuentes was Jhun Magtibay of Calabarzon who recorded 6.45 meters, while Western Visayas bet Rowel Alarcon claimed the bronze with 6.41 meters.
Western Visayas asserted its might early on in athletics with three gold medals.
Richee Joy Cabanyog set a new mark in the secondary boys’ shot put secondary boys using the 7-kg iron ball with 13.90 meters to win the gold. Central Luzon’s Bryan Jay Pacheco (12.90) and Garry Santiago (12.88) of National Capital Region took the silver and bronze respectively.
WV’s Ralph Gesulgon (13.68 meters) holds the record in the 6-kg iron ball while Arthur Enon (13.19 meters) was the record owner 7.26-kg ironal set in 1990 Palarong Pambansa in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Evalyn Palabrica and Dexter Galos, also of Western Visayas, ruled secondary girls’ javelin throw and secondary boys’ 5,000-meter run respectively.
Palabrica registered 39.61 meters in her final and sixth throw to claim the gold medal over Caraga’s Rinalyn Apos (36.90) and Calabarzon’s Jenelyn Arle (35.60)
Galos was the first gold medal winner of this year’s Palarong Pambansa after winning the first event Sunday morning.
Galos and silver medal winner Arnold Galap of Cordillera Autonomous Region both timed in 16 minutes and 1.02 seconds but the former crossed the finish line first in a dramatic finish.
