VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur —Literally working double time, Jason Jabol of Dasmariñas, Cavite installed himself the fastest kid and the long jump prince of Batang Pinoy Luzon leg in this heritage city.
If there were a busiest athlete at the Elpidio Quirino Stadium here, it would be the 14-year-old Jabol who saw action almost simultaneously in the boys’ 100-meter run and the boys’ long jump event, which he both dominated for a double-gold finish.
“Nagsabay po kasi ang dalawang event ko. Leading pa lang po ako sa long jump tapos itatakbo na ang 100m,” said Jabol, one of 10 children of parents, Dionisio and Rosemarie.
Jabol, a grade 9 student at the Immaculate Conception Academy in Dasmarinas made 6.18 meters in his first attempt, which turned out to be the winning jump.
Moments later, he went to the starting line of the track with eight other runners, finishing the job in 11.35 seconds to win the gold in the century dash. Claveland Joel Mallari of Makati City (11.52s) and Kharl Berjuela (11.79s) placed second and third, respectively.
He went back for his second and third jumps, but his first attempt proved good enough to win the gold.
Jabol, a four-gold medal winner in the last year’s Palarong Pambansa in Tagum City Davao Del Norte, decided to sit out the fourth and fifth jumps.
“Pero kung nalampasan po ang nalundag ko ay pipilitin ko po tumalon ulit. Sinubukan ko na lang po na ma-break ang personal record sa last jump,” said Jabol, who will return to the tract today for the 200m, 4×100 and 4×400 relays.
Sharing the limelight with Jabol was triathlete Tara Borlain of Pasig City, who debuted with aplomb and pocketed the gold in the girls’ 3,000-meter run with the best time of 10.58.54.
“I always give my best in my event. I’m not looking at the position but I always go for the time and thankfully I got my personal best,” said Borlain, champion of the recent 15-under Alaska Iron Kids in Mactan, Cebu.
In the other jump event, Patrick Shane Tolentino of Zambales took the gold in the boys’ high jump with the best turn of 1.73 meters.
Jan Rey Gallano of Laguna topped the boys’ 400m with a time of 62.37 minutes, followed by Franko Dean Mabalot of Baguio City (62.94m) and Dave Joseph Basungit of Candon City (63.65m).
Winning the gold in the boys’ 5,000 meters was Jaspher Delfino of Camarines Sur with the best clocking of 17:12.20s while Jabol’s Dasmarinas teammate, Jan Mervin Francisco, dominated the boys’ javelin throw with his 47.79m effort.
Over at the Vigan Convention Center, Taguig City took the best haul of three gold medals in karate courtesy of its boys’ 15-year-old-below kata team of Leo Miguel Cuadra, Von Noart Cabug, Kiel Ivon Lavapiez, girls’ team Kristen Wayne Apaga, Julia Jan Marcos and Maria Yvon German and Baby Angel Lamorte in the girls’ 10-11 years old advance kata event.
In sepak takraw, Pangasinan’s Jether Guido, Miguel Canto at Joshua Manao defeated Marikina City squad to bag the gold in the boys’ doubles event. San Jose Del Monte took the bronze.