CVIRAA bounces back with 3 golds

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — The Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) recovered from an opening day heartbreak with three golds, four silvers and five bronzes in the 2009 Palarong Pambansa at the Leyte Sports Development Center here yesterday.

CVIRAA may have lost Lindley Fran Navaja who already graduated from high school last year, but Daniel Noval of Mandaue filled in his shoe’s by becoming the fastest runner in the secondary boys division.

Noval clocked in 11.04 seconds in the 100m run, approximately one meter and a half from National Capital Region’s Joseph Capinpin, who settled for second in 11.32 seconds.

CVIRAA got a bonus in the 100m run when Noval’s teammate Marc Daven Agdasiw grabbed the bronze with the time of 11.42 seconds.

Another secondary bet of CVIRAA, Lorna Olarita from Dagohoy, Bohol, handed a silver in the 400m hurdles with a1:07.20 clocking.

CVIRAA’s elementary athletics squad was not to be outdone as it won the triple jump’s gold via the efforts of Mylene Alforque who leaped to a distance of 10.09m.

Alforque, however, missed to break fellow Cebuana Irin Balutan’s record of 10.42m.

At the pool, Cebu’s top swimmer Loren Dale Echavez has recovered from a not-so impressive performance during the first day of competition with a golden finish in the 100m freestyle in the secondary girls action with the time of 1:02.49, edging out NCR’s Hannah Dato who registered 1:02.52.

CVIRAA’s elementary tankers got a bronze under the 400m medley relay with the time of 5:07.02. The team is composed of Fritz Tamara,James Gravador, Cynthjune Goden and Ian Colipapa.

CVIRAA’s other medals of the day came from tennis, archery and badminton.

Going into the penultimate day of the multi-sport event, CVIRAA stands with four golds, five silvers, and 10 bronzes. – THE FREEMAN