A lot is in store for sprinter Leonelyn Compuesto following the success of the Masbate Athletics team in the recently concluded Philippine Sports Commission-organized Batang Pinoy National Championships in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
Athletics is set to become the flagship program of the Masbate Sports Academy after its student-athletes collected a total of 11 golds, six silvers, and seven bronzes to claim the no. 1 position and dominate track and field competitions.
“Tuluy-tuloy na ang athletics. Ito na ang magiging flagship program namin,” said Department of Education Division Sports Coordinator and the current OIC Principal of Masbate Sports Academy Rufino Arellano after witnessing the exploits of team Masbate in the Ilocos Sur.
The 15-year-old Compuesto was the fastest runner after sweeping all her five events, bagging her first three gold medals in the 200m, 400m, and 4x100m relay events, before ruling the girls’ 100-meter dash, and anchoring her team to win the 4x400m relay on the final day.
Born and raised in the town of Placer, Compuesto 13.11.103 seconds to edge Schenley Faye Ombid of South Cotabato (13.11.109) and Angel Villagracia of Capiz (13.47) who settled for silver and bronze, respectively during her fourth event, the 100-meter sprints.
Then, she and her teammates, first-timers Realyn Lanuza, Jesalyn Materdan, and Alessandra Capellan, took the 4x400m relay in 4:14.96.
They beat Loraine Batalla’s Calamba City squad, who were far behind at 4:29.30 at the Quirino Stadium oval.
Laguna settled for the silver in 4:29.30 and Biñan bagged the bronze in 4:35.77 minutes.
Arellano said their Academy started accepting student-athletes last March, after House Bill 1125 of Cong. Wilson Ty Kho was finally enacted.
And Compuesto and her teammates were among the first 20 who were initially accepted into the academy.
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“Ito na ang resulta ng pagsimula ng Academy,” said Arellano, who added that they will soon expand to chess and arnis next year, and football in the secondary level.
Masbate’s other gold medal efforts came from Jireh Rance (boys 800-meters), the 1-2 finish of Realyn Lanuza in the 200-meter girls’ sprints, Courtney Trangia in the girls’ discus throw, and Prince Branzuela in the boys’ discus throw.
Also shining is ninth-grader Alessandra Capellan settled for second place to Pangasinan’s Marjorie Ragudos in the girls’ high jump, with Ragudos clearing 1.30 meters, and Capellan leaping to 1.25 meters.
“This is very impressive dahil naibigay nila ang best nila dahil nakuha nila ang target time and distance nila,” said athlete-turned coach Regine Batoy-Librando, a triple gold medallist in the 2018 Philippine National Games in Cebu.
Compuesto and many of her teammates will again be back in the 2023 Palarong Pambansa, which is slated in Marikina City this April, along with a stint in the 2023 Asian Youth Athletics Championships slated from April 27-30 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Baguio emerged as the top finisher in the weeklong meet for athletes aged 15 years and below, with its haul of 31-30-39 gold-silver-bronze medals, with closest rivals Pasig City (22-12-14) and Quezon City (21-10-15) in second and third.
Archery produced 11 gold, 8 silver, and 9 bronze medals, taekwondo brought home an 8-4-6 medal tally, and Muay Thai with 5-3-4. Baguio claimed championships in 2018 and 2019.
What’s in store for Masbate?
Compuesto, along with her teammates will next join the national athletics team that will compete in the 2023 Asian Youth Athletics Championships slated from April 27-30 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association secretary-general Edward Kho said they are among the athletes whom they have shortlisted to compete internationally.
“Based on their strong performances, they are at the top of the shortlist. They only need continuous guidance and encouragement,” said Kho in a statement.
Aside from Compuesto, Mico Villaran, a standout from Romanito Maravilla National High School emerged as among the top medallists in the boys division, capturing gold medals in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter hurdles.
