Record mark caps Gotuaco’s Arizona feat

MANILA, Philippines - Archer Bianca Roxas-Chua Gotuaco turned in a record-breaking feat to highlight her gold medal romp in the junior division 70m women’s recurve in the Arizona Cup in Phoenix recently.

The 15-year-old Gotuaco shot 319 points to shatter the previous best of 304 set by US team member Holly Stover in 2011. The reigning Palarong Pambansa champion also bested a talent-laden field to capture the gold (after 144 arrows) in the Junior Category for 18-20 years old.

It was indeed a remarkable feat for the Batang Pinoy multi-medalist and International School Manila sophomore, who competed as a cadet archer but humbled her rivals in the older junior class.

“Ranged against a tough field and competing in windy condition, I stayed focused and just did my best,” said the soft-spoken Gotuaco, a silver medalist in the US State Games of America, who also took home the bronze medals in 50m (301 points) and overall Fita score (1263).

She also dominated the Cadet division (14-17 years old) in last year’s 128th US Nationals in Hamilton, Ohio.

Gotuaco, one of the 11 Filipino athletes who were given a three-week sports scholarship at St. Bede’s College in England last year, also wound up fourth in 30m (330 points) and ended up fifth in 60m (315).

She will next see action in the Philippine National Games in May and the World Youth Championships in October.