Laguna collects two more golds in Batang Pinoy athletic games

September 19, 2018 Featured News Sports

BAGUIO CITY – The year-round sports program of Laguna province is paying off, as it collected two more golds in athletics in the ongoing 2018 Batang Pinoy National Championships here. 
On Wednesday, Laguna’s pride, Magvrylle Matchino, ruled the lung-busting 3,000-meter steeplechase, while Laurice Jeanne Wangkay dominated the 2,000-meter walk in the girls’ secondary events.
Matchino clocked 8 minutes and 4.24 seconds for the gold. She defeated Mel Joy Gonzales and Mariafe Basong, both of Davao del Norte. Gonzales posted 8:19.23, while Basong clocked 9:41.87 for the silver and bronze honors, respectively.
“I was a bit nervous in the first minutes of the race, but when I crossed the first water jump, it boosted my confidence,” Matchino said with tears of joy, just seconds after she crossed the finished line.
She attributed her victory to the year-round sports program of their province.
The 14-year-old Matchino, a Grade 9 student of Siniloan Integrated National High School, kept her lead throughout the race and was inspired by her father, a farmer, the coaching staff, and a number of athletes from their province, who were all cheering on the side lines.
She dedicated her victory to her mother, a domestic helper in London, who called her a day before the race and challenged her: “Anak (child), I’m praying for you, kailangan manalo ka (you have to win).”
Wangkay, for her part, clocked 11 minutes and 29 seconds for the gold in the 2,000 meter walk. She beat Nekie Hope Cabancal of South Cotabato and Yessamin Carbonilla of Baguio City.
Aira Mae Gali of the host city showed dominance in the 800 meter girls’ secondary running event, bagging the gold with 2:22.76. She beat Charmaine de Ocampo of Dasmariñas City and Mary Joy Loberans of Cebu City, who took the silver and bronze spots, respectively.
The day was capped by the gold finishes of Dasmariñas City boys’ group and Bacolod City girls’ group in the 4 X 100 meter relay competitions.
The Dasmarinas City boys quartet (4 X 100 meter relay) beat Pangasinan and South Cotabato teams, which settled for the silver and bronze honors, respectively.
The girls quartet of Bacolod City out-classed Dasmariṅas City and Tarlac, which settled for the silver and bronze, respectively.
Meanwhile, in field events, Mariel Abuan of Botolan, Zambales grabbed the gold in high jump, beating Jessica Suralta of Cebu and Princess Lyn Diano of General Santos City, who took the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
In the high jump secondary boys, the gold went to Zambales’ Patrick Shane Tolentino, while the silver went to Baguio’s Armando Cabanilla and the bronze to Rick Angelo Sotto of Cebu City. PRIMO AGATEP, PNA