CESAFI Atheletics: Freshman stuns veterans

An 18-year old prized-find from Mandaue City stunned a field of veterans as the University of Cebu Webmasters intensified their dominance in the track and field events of the Cebu Schools Athletic Federation, Inc. (CESAFI), at the Cebu City Sports Center yesterday.

Running in lane 8, UC freshman Anthony Santillan silently worked his way up to grab the gold medal in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.71 seconds.

"I was really surprised with my victory because I did not expect to win considering the field of runners who are older and more experienced than me," Santillan said.

Santillan stunned early favorites Timoteo Margaha III and Daniel Corea, both seniors at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), who were the silver and bronze medallists, respectively in the 2004 edition.

Correa climbed up to second in 23.84 and Margaha dropped to third in 24.01.

Today, Santillan will go for another gold medal as he vies anew against Correa and Margaha in the 100m dash.

In another big victory for the Webmasters, Marlonne Sabellon bucked little preparation to lead an impressive 1-2 finish for the Webmasters in the high jump event.

Taking up a Computer course in UC, Sabellon cleared a height of 1.70-meter to win the gold as teammate Clyde Calijan settled for silver in 1.65m. Arvin Inajid of USJ-R clinched the bronze in 1.60m.

The victory of Sabellon was actually as revenged for his loss in the 110-meter hurdle to Harren Melendez of USPF.

Melendez clocked 16.29 seconds to win the gold, edging Sabellon, who finished in 16.31 as Calijan took the bronze in 17.86.

Calijan, for his part, also redeemed himself in the 400m hurdles, covering the field in 1:00.05 for the gold as teammate Carlo Vaughn Alipio clinched the silver in 1:00.77.

The Webmasters also took all the gold medals in the 800m run.

Michael Kenn Lopez defended his title in 2 minutes and 3.20 seconds and he was followed by Gilbert Luterte of USJ-R (2:07.00) and Adelio Chiang of UC (2:10.37).

Long distance runner Christy Sevilleno topped in the distaff side in 2:23.91 with Sarah Mae Abucay of USP-F (2:34.78) and Carmen Tuñacao of USJ-R (3:16.45) completing the top three.

The other gold medal winners for UC were Jaivee Vergara (200), Jeppy Lumongsod (5K walk), Edward Encontro (triple jump) and Janice Ann Bautista (100m hurdles and 400m hurdles).

The gold medal winners from USJ-R are Ma. Loida Abarquez in high jump and triple jump and Jefferson Querubin and Angelica Lado, both in shot put and discus throw while USP-F has Mendel Lopez (10,000m) and Mary Rose Arman (1,500m).

The lone gold medal winner for Southwestern University is Eden Dampios in the 3K walk with a time of 22:03.89 and May Raboy of UC finished with the silver medal in 23:11.07.

MEDAL TALLY

The Webmasters ended the first day of competition with 11 gold medals to top in the tertiary division with USJ-R trailing with 6, USPF with 3 and SWU with 1.

In the secondary division, the Webmasters are way up in the leader board with 15 gold medals while a far second is USPF with 2.

SECONDARY DIVISION

Milo Little Olympics Most Outstanding Athlete Kenn Werner Villaruel won the gold in the 800m run to lead the medal winners of UC in the secondary division.

They are Jhim Benedict Ygot and Lera dela Calzada (200), Annabel Nuñez (800), Sheena Gacayan (3,000), Arcil Cubcuban (110m hurdles and 400m hurdles), Almira Gay Sadaya (100m hurdles), Marjorie Ann Sy (400m hurdles and high jump), Anselmo Esgana (long jump and high jump), Irin Baluran (triple jump) and Stephanie Sanico (shot put and discus throw).

USPF won two gold medals courtesy of Junrey Navaja in shot put and James Dario in discus throw.

More gold medals will be up for grabs today as the CESAFI athletics competition resumes, starting 6 a.m. at the CCSC.