Host Baguio sizzles with six golds in athletics

Baguio, Philippines  – The host city captured six of the first eight gold medals at stake in athletics yesterday at the start of the Northern and Central Luzon qualifying round of Batang Pinoy 2011 at the Teacher’s Camp Track Oval.

The very first gold medal of the Baguio City leg was won by 15-year-old Regan Contic, a 4th year high school student of Baguio City National High School. In his final attempt in shot put, he cleared 11.60 meters to steal the gold from Eleazar Villaluan of Bulacan.

Villaluan, who was then leading the field after an 11.07-meter performance, settled for the silver.  Fred Binisait of Baguio City, meanwhile, settled for the bronze in this event organized by the Philippine Sports Commission held in partnership with Smart, Maynilad and Summit Mineral Drinking Water.

“First time ko po nag-shot put. Discus throw po talaga ang laro ko,” said Contic whose father Orlando is a miner in Itogon, Benguet and mother Eleonor is a vendor. “Hindi ko po inaasahan na malampasan ko ang kalaban kasi last try na.”

Also winning gold medals for Baguio City are Angela Caronongan in girls high jump (1.38m), Angeline De Guzman in shot put girls (7.78m), Jasmin Felix in girls 100m high hurdles (16.23 seconds), Ike Kevin Yagin in boys 800m run (2:10.78) and Agustina Anganayon in the girls 800m run.

The boys 110m high hurdles was topped by Gio Bryan Malinao of City of San Jose Del Monte with a clocking of 16.68 seconds even as the boys high jump was ruled  by John Noel Huerta of Castaneda, Nueva Vizcaya at 1.65 meters.

The games, also sponsored by Milo, Jollibee, The British Council, Standard Insurance, Manila Bulletin, Negros Navigation-Super Ferry, Kids 3 Food Supplement and RELIV for Kids, opened Wednesday afternoon with a colorful ceremony at the Baguio Atheltic Bowl. 

Guests of honor and speakers were PSC commissioner Chito Loyzaga and Baguio City Councilor Betty Cortez-Tabarda who represented Mayor Mauricio Domogan.

“We are very thankful for the PSC for sharing us this tournament and their commitment for the development of young athletes. We just hope that they continue helping us more with the improvement of our sports facilities like our Athletic bowl and other venues,” said Tabarda.

The Baguio City leg will end on Sunday, November 27. All gold medal winners here will advance to the Batang Pinoy national finals on December 10-13 in Naga City.

“We want to develop friendship not just from among athletes but also within our different local government in providing and giving them competitions. We believe that our youth need these competitions to hone and instill in them values and character inherent in sports,” said Loyzaga.

Also fielding delegations in this LGU-based, 15-under games were Malolos and Pulilan in Bulacan, Tarlac City, Angeles City, San Juan in La Union, Narvacan City, Castaneda and Solano in Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo City,Pangasinan, City of San Jose Del Monte, Santiago City, Magalang inPampanga and the province of Bulacan.

The final two qualifying legs of Batang Pinoy 2011 are slated at the University of Makati from November 29 to December 2 for the National Capital Region and Sta. Cruz, Laguna on December 4-7 for Southern Luzon.