USP's Melendez bags Cebu City's first gold

PALAYAN CITY, NUEVA ECIJA - Harren Melendez of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) struck gold yesterday, even as the Team Cebu City Niños continued their impressive run in the 1st Philippine Olympic Festival-2006 National Open Track and Field Championships here at the Nueva Ecija Sports Complex.

Melendez, who clocked the best time in the semifinals, kept his composure to produce Cebu City's first gold medal through the 100m hurdles event with a time of 15.77 seconds.

Trailing Melendez was Mike Mendoza of Ateneo de Manila University with a time of 16.03 seconds, while the third placer was Christian Perias of Laguna Province-A, who clocked in 16.05sec.

Melendez's feat was followed by a bronze medal finish of Christy Sevilleno of University of Cebu (UC), who placed third in the 5,000m run with a time of 20 minutes and 48.1 seconds.

23rd Southeast Asian Games gold medallist Mercidita Manipol of TMS Ship Agencies took the gold medal in 16:57.4. Her teammate Liza Yamba grabbed the silver in 19:14.9.

Sprinter Lera dela Calzada of UC continued with her rise as she led the finalists in the 100m dash for girls after clocking 13.2 seconds in the semifinals, while Anthony Santillan of UC timed 11.44 to enter the finals in the boys division as sixth best.

Palarong Pambansa hurdles king Jorge Pinanonang of UC registered the second best time of 51.50 in the 400m run behind Romnick Herida of Far Eastern University (FEU), who submitted 51.38.

Another TCC bet Kenn Werner Villaruel was 14th in the ranking with a time of 54 seconds.

Teammate Anabel Nuñez of UC was third best in the distaff side with a time of 1:02.16.

The 4x100 relay for boys also will be gunning for a medal after they ranked third in the elimination round with a time of 44.8 seconds.

Pinanonang was joined by Santillan, Anselmo Esgana and Kenn Werner Villaruel.

The best time in the 4x100m relay heats went to FEU in 43.8 and Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation followed in 44.5.

The country will witness for the first time a medal blackout in the women's 100m event as foreign bets claimed the top eight finals seats.

Yi-Chun Lin and Ying-Ru Chen from Chinese Taipei occupied the top two spots. They are followed by Chan Jo Yee of Hong Kong, Ketsiri Wongchai of Thailand, Wan Kin Yee of Hong Kong and Jitlada Kunkeaw of Thailand.

The Niños' stint is supported by the Cebu City Sports Commission through Councilor Sylvan "Jack" Jakosalem, University of Cebu president Atty. Augusto Go, Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay and sportsman Jonathan Guardo.