Manila earns four golds in athletics

Host Manila, relegated to the background the first three days, finally made its presence felt in the first MY Games National Invitational as it captured four gold medals in the centerpiece track and field to join Muntinlupa atop the helm at the UST makeshift track.

Marilou Amila led the golden run by copping the javelin gold for 16-17-year-old girls in the rain-hit athletics events in this week-long meet.

Amila, who went home with two gold medals in javelin and shot put in the fourth MYG early this year, heaved 26.23 meters, besting Stephanie Lictag of Baguio (21.76) and Che Che Rogon also of Manila (20.76).

Earlier, Elissa Marie Paez and Angelo Villamil topped the shot put event for 12-and-under boys and girls while Randolf Hernandez ruled the javelin event for 13-15-year-old boys.

Paez threw a 5.95, trouncing Toni Jeen Laurena (5.24) and Lenebeth Lanoy of Bohol (4.95) while Villamil registered a 7.26 to beat Marlon Gacoscos of Candon (6.53) and Roger Hagutin of Bohol (6.46).

Hernandez, for his part, heaved a 39.68, way ahead of the 31.45 and 29.12 thrown by Bryan Bautista of Candon and Ramon Agtong of Manila, respectively.

Taguig also sizzled through Rong Fe Abing who topped javelin for 16-17-year-old boys. He had a 49.32 against Romel Buyog of Parañaque (36.87) and RJ Bulaong of Bulacan (32.90).