25 new marks set in Palaro

TARLAC PROVINCE, Philippines – Twenty five records – 13 in athletics and 12 in swimming – were broken in the just-concluded Palarong Pambansa, making it the most productive edition in recent years.

“This is definitely the Palarong Pambansa with the most records reset,” Len Toledo told The STAR yesterday.

But more than the new records, Toledo said the event, staged in partnership with Tarlac Gov. Vic Yap, was remarkable since it was staged without a hitch despite the El Nino threat unlike in 2007 when the heat wave claimed two lives and recorded more than 300 cases of heat stroke in Koronadal, South Cotabato.

NCR bet Patrick Unso, whose father Renato owns the long standing RP record in the 400-meter hurdles, won four gold medals, including new norms in the 110m and 400m hurdles and the 4x100m relay.

Tiny Catherine Bondad of Calabarzon also came out big as she produced the worthiest performance in the pool with two new meet records before capping her superb effort by steering NCR to the 4x400m gold.

The slew of record feats came as a pleasant surprise since the athletes had to contend with tough weather conditions like the scorching afternoon heat.

“It was really a surprise, but a pleasant one,” said Toledo.

PSC chair Harry Angping and Gov. Yap rewarded the record breakers with P5,000 cash incentive each.

“We’ll take a look at these record breakers and maybe tap and train some of them for future international tournaments,” said Angping.