ILAGAN CITY—Southern Tagalog bets Veruel Verdadero and Eliza Cuyom became the toast of the 2018 Ayala Philippine Athletics Championships at the City of Ilagan Sports Complex here after a dominant show in the centerpiece 100-meter run to anchor their team’s harvest of golds Sunday.
Following a strong Palarong Pambansa showing last April in Vigan City, the 16-year-old Verdadero covered the 100-meter race in just 11.16 seconds to edge out Malaysian Desmond Wong Tzyy Luen, while the 17-year-old Cuyom clocked in 12.80 seconds to steal the girls’ crown from her teammate and Palaro Most Outstanding Athlete Jessel Lumapas (12.95s).
Later on, the two young runners spearheaded the Dasmariñas City Athletics Team to an astounding run in the 4×100 meter mixed relay for their fourth gold medal in the country’s biggest and premier athletics conclave presented by Ayala Corp. and the City of Ilagan, with support from Milo, the Philippine Sports Commission, Foton, Cocolife, Rebisco and F2 Logistics.
The two, who are the APAC’s most bemedalled athletes so far, joined hands with Lumapas and John Lord Santos as they clocked in 46.55 seconds to beat representatives of the CSF Knights and Calamba City.
“Masaya po, pero medyo kulang pa,” said Verdadero, who has a chance to cap off an epic five-of-five conquest in the boys’ 4x100m relay later this night.
Verdadero clinched five gold medals in 2016 Palaro, but only managed to haul three mints this year, which served as an added fuel for him to be at his best in the APAC.
“Parang pambawi ko po ito, kasi dahil nga doon sa Palaro,” added Verdadero, who also ruled the 200m and 400m runs.
On the other hand, Cuyom earlier reigned supreme in 100m hurdles and girls’ 4x100m relay prior to her surprise win in the century dash and Dasma’s big win in the mixed gender 4x100m relay.
Running against tougher competition, Cuyom’s potential was in full display in the national open, where with her four-gold showing so far, was a big improvement from her one-gold finish in Palaro.
With itsr wins, Dasma upped its gold-medal haul to 11 to lead the 26 participating teams entering the last day of the trackfest.
Meanwhile, PH team member Anfernee Lopeña redeemed himself by winning the men’s century dash after a costly error in the 4x100m relay that led into a disqualification loss on Thursday. Teaming up with fellow national team mates Eric Cray, Trenten Beram and Clinton Bautista, first runner Lopena accidentally dropped the baton to second-running Cray which spelled doom in their attempt to break their own national record of 39.11 seconds set last year in the Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.
“This is redemption,” said this year’s fastest man Lopeña, who clocked in 10.91 seconds to eclipse Malaysian Muhammad Din Norbik (11.18s) and La Salle’s William Gacerlan (11.23s).
Beram and Cray, meanwhile, opted to sit out the highlight century dash after posting a 1-2 finish in the 200m run on Friday to pace themselves for the upcoming Asian Games this August in Indonesia.
After a DQ finish, the four relay runners are eyeing a huge rebound in the looming continental meet.
Lopeña’s fellow national teammate Eloisa Luzon won the women’s century dash with a time of 12.34 seconds. Completing the podium were University of the Philippines’ Jeremiah Malonzo (12.61s) and Ateneo’s Kimberly Zulueta (12.64s).
UP capped off a four-gold medal sweep in the 400m hurdles as Francis Medina (52.51s) and Robyn Lauren Brown (1:01:08) topped the men’s and women’s division, respectively.
Their junior counterparts Ferdinand Tridanion (54.93s) and Riza Jane Dufalco (1:04:15) also ruled the boys’ and girls’ category.
In boys’ javelin throw, Mapua University’s James Lozanes tallied 56.73 meters to overpower San Beda’s Marjoe Igbalic (55.05m) and Camarines Norte’s Larry Amparo (49.71m).
Perpetual’s Ernie Calipay, meanwhile, recorded 1.90 meters in fewer attempts to win the boys’ high jump over National University’s Alberto Ubando (1.90m) and Malaysian Dino Hiew Han Hong (1.80m).
