But Cebu City still way ahead of rivals in 2017 CVIRAA Meet
CEBU, Philippines - University of Cebu’s John Marvin Rafols saved Cebu City Ninos from a gold medal shutout but the perennial champion still enjoys a comfortable lead with 42 gold, 19 silver and 14 bronze medals in Day 4 of the 2017 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Meet played mainly at the Doring Mendiola Sr. Sports Complex in Naga City south of Cebu.
Even if they only got one gold for the day, Cebu City is still way ahead of Lapu-Lapu City which could only managed six golds, 17 silvers and 16 bronzes, while Bohol currently runs at third spot with 4-4-9 medal tally.
Rafols, a Palarong Pambansa gold medalist, claimed the gold medal in the long jump event with his 6.68 meter. He beat Bohol’s Shein Ralf Usaraga (6.57m) and an athlete from Cebu Province (6.44m) who settled for the silver and bronze, respectively.
It as a sweet victory for Rafols who admitted that he suffered a hamstring injury during his final training for the competition last week.
“Ako lang gyud gipugos karon ug duwa. Namahala na lang ko. But I’m very happy with the gold medal even if it was not my best jump,” said the 18-year-old Rafols.
Rafol’s teammate Jan Dean Durano secured the silver medal in the discus throw with 28.38m.
The athletics of event started interestingly with the unheralded bets from Bohol Province taking the first two golds.
Eduardo Nilmida Jr. topped the secondary boys’ 3,000m steeplechase in 11:00.31 clocking over Cebu Province’s Carlo Ilustrisimo with 11:05.62 . Jobert Bolo of Toledo City settled for the bronze medal with a time of 11:12.10.
Bohol scored its back-to-back gold medal with Mark Pejana dominating the elementary boys shotput with 8.97m over teammate Christopher Banas (8.30m) and Cebu Province’s John Fyl Rumaguera with 7.86.
Discus thrower Eljade Pepito gave Cebu Province its first gold with his 29.88m. Gahd Ashen Bantilan followed it up with another one in the long jump event with 5.24m as May Laiza Pastorpile nabbed the gold in the elementary discus throw with 23.75.
Bogo’s Charesse Ann Abao upended the more favored Shanelle Demylys Siasoyco of Mandaue City for the gold in shotput with her 10.24 as the latter registered a 9.47 mark.
Danao City made its presence felt with a gold medal after its athlete won the elementary long jump in 4.39m. (FREEMAN)