Heroes come in abundance in Batang Pinoy

ILOCOS SUR, Philippines — A pair of eagle-eyed archers, a brawny hurdler and a lightning-quick cyclist took the spotlight in yesterday’s Batang Pinoy staged in and around the province yesterday.

Jathniel Caleb Fernandez of Baguio City and Adrianna Jessie Magbojos of Sta. Rosa City scooped up five gold apiece to move on the cusp of becoming the most bemedalled athletes of the Games.

Both nine-year-old sensations were unshakeable in archery’s 10 meters, 15m, 20m, 30m, and total, and should come in as heavy favorites in today’s Olympic round at the San Ildefonso Central School grounds.

Fernandez’s dad, Randy, later revealed his son has the same bow, quiver and equipment used by his three elder siblings when they were still actively competing on the national stage.

“Archery equipment are expensive and I’m happy my children took up the same sport,” said the eldest Fernandez, who makes a living as a machine operator.

Mico Villaran of Bacolod City, for his part, struck in centerpiece athletics at the Quirino Stadium in Bantay where copped the hurdles gold in 110m and 200m while Maritanya Krogg of Caloocan made her mark in cycling set in front of the Provincial Capitol in Vigan where she added an individual time trial mint to her criterium gold the day before.

The 15-year-old Romanito Maravilla ninth-grader will try to complete a golden treble as he was running in the 400m hurdles at press time while the 13-year-old Baesa High ninth-grader eyes a cycling triple crown as she competes in road race today.

“My dream to race in the SEA (Southeast Asian) Games and abroad,” said Villaran, who went into running after he got rejected by in his school’s badminton and volleyball teams.

Also striking cycling gold were Pangasinan’s Jerick Cabael (14:06.448) in boys’ 13-and-below, Harvy Dolutan (22:32.823) in boys 14-15 and Aira Danara Gregorio (15:26.385) in girls 14-15.

Over at the Quirino Stadium pool, Angeles’ Daniel Jonas Ocampo (boys’ 200m back 12-under), Laguna’s Jaella Mische Mendoza (girls’ 200m back 12-under) and Lucena’s Peter Cyrus Dean (boys’ 200m back 13-15) all splashed their way to the gold.