Cebu City Niños surge to the top of leaderboard

CEBU, Philippines — Host Cebu City Niños staged a daring fightback - thanks to their dance athletes - to seize the overall lead with 35 gold, 24 silver, and 20 bronze medals after four days of hostilities in the 2024 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Meet.

The spirited Niños dominated dancesport anew, carting away 18 of the 24 golds at stake.

This is the first time in CVIRAA history that dancesport is already a regular event, thus include in the medal tally.

Rhyss Rhafael Fajardo, Shadelle Nina Hernandez, Francis Dave Sombal, and Mitchloni Dinauanao led Cebu City’s hot charge on the dance floor by sweeping all gilts available in modern standard and latin divisions.

Cebu City also bagged golds in taekwondo’s poomsae event courtesy of Kenneth Gonzales, Amythist Jill Velasco, Kyla Shaine Monteron, Dennis James Arquero, and Raizle Keith Saladaga.

Briana Pahayahay and Em-ji Mata produced Cebu City’s first two golds in swimming via the 200m breast stroke event in the secondary level, while Sean Kyler Carillo minted gold in the secondary boys 800m run.

Cebu City hauled the rest of its golds in aero gymnastics, wushu, and arnis earlier.

Dumaguete City leapfrogged to temporary second place with 23 golds, 26 silvers and 21 bronzes behind the sterling performances of its swimmers and archers, while erswhile leader Lapu-Lapu City dropped to third with 17 golds, 12 silvers, and seven bronzes.

Bohol Province stayed at fourth spot with 14-15-16 gold-silver-bronze record followed by Tagbilaran at fifth place with 11-12-3 tally.

Rounding up the Top 10 are Mandaue City(7-12-12), Cebu Province(6-11-21), Negros Oriental (6-10-7), Danao City (5-6-19), and Bayawan City (5-4-4). — (FREEMAN)