BANTAY, Ilocos Sur—Eliza Cuyom broke into a big smile after she won secondary girls 100-meter hurdles finals.
That’s after she finished with a record-breaking time of 14.5 seconds, her performance eclipsing an existing Philippine junior record yesterday in Day 4 of the Palarong Pambansa athletics meet at the Quirino Stadium oval here.
“Masaya po. Nakakatuwa. Iyung ginawa ko sa trials, inimprove ko pa sa finals,” said the 17-year-old daughter of a domestic helper in the United Arab Emirates.
Cuyom is seeing action for Region IV-A. She was motivated by her coach Anthony Valdez who showed her his notes and told her that she smashed a seven-year-old Philippine junior mark for the second time since the time trials last Monday.
Cuyom, who led the trials in 14.73 seconds, erased the meet record of 14.9 set by Michelle Pastasaja of Western Mindanao in 1996.
After increasing her pace in the last three barriers, Cuyom, an 11th grader from Sampaloc 1 in Dasmarinas, Cavite, beat National Capital Region’s Ella Sirilan (15.18 seconds) and third placer teammate Evangeline Caminong (15.44 seconds).
Cuyom joined javelin thrower Ann Katherine Quitoy and sprinter Veruel Verdadero, who left big marks in their respective events.
Quitoy, who is from Bacolod, hurled the standard 600-gram spear to a record-smashing distance of 45.72 meters, surpassing the existing national junior mark of 45.74 meters that Fil Heritage athlete Cerah Moren did last year in a United States track meet in San Mateo, California.
Verdadero’s clocking of 10.55 seconds eclipsed the national junior mark of 10.6 seconds that Julio Bayaban set in the 1979 National Open, and also bettered the 10.75 seconds performance of Feberoy Kasi of Southern Mindanao Region.
Three course records were set after Rizza Jane Valiente of Mabini, Bohol contributed to Region 6’s efforts with her 1:01.45 clocking in the secondary girls 400-meter hurdles, which improved on NCR bet Rochelle Jalabrica’s 1:05 feat.
Region IV-A’s Jessel Lumapas took the secondary girls 400-meter run gold in 56.28 seconds, bettering Jenny Rose Rosales’ 57.33 second time in 2011.
Willie Trixie of Region 6 took the gold in the elementary girls 100-meter hurdles in 16.3 seconds, smashing the 8-year best time of 16.4 seconds that was set by Jesus Ampunan of Bicol Region in 2010.
In secondary boys basketball, Davao Region won over Central Luzon, 94-93, to advance to the semifinals. Aljay Alloso scored the game-winner with 10 seconds left and Vince Cuajao led with 31 points.
In tennis, NCR prevailed over Region IV-A for the secondary girls crown.
Region IV-A emerged as champions over Region 7 in the secondary boys badminton team tie. It was also Region IV-A which took the secondary girls plum.
Abad Supena of Region IV, won the secondary boys gold in 8-ball billiards, while Region VI’s Hannah Magluyan topped the distaff side.
In the secondary girls poomsae, Chelsea Tacay of CAR emerged as champion in the individual girls A while Cindy Diasnes ruled individual B.
Tacay, with Jessa Tumlayen, Xaphrine Rivera and Cheyenah de la Fuente, topped the group action. Diasnes and Joshua Cachero gave Region 6 the mixed pair gold.
In the boys side, Johann Concepcion of Region 7 ruled the individual A while Michael Porras powered Region 10 to the gold in Group B.
Justin Macario led CAR to the boys group honors.
In the secondary boys tie, Region IV-A leaned on Jewel Albo and Jeno Carino, in leading Region 7 to the gold.
Jochelle Alvarez and her Region IV-A teammates took the secondary girls tie at the expense of NCR.
