Vigan, Ilocos Sur—Peter Cyrus Dean splashed his way to a fourth podium finish for his second gold, handing Lucena City its eighth gold medal on Monday in Day 3 of the Philippine Sports Commission’s Batang Pinoy swimming competitions at the Quirino Stadium pool here.
The 15-year-old Dean, who has a personal total of four podium finishes after three days of competition, took the 13-15 year old boys’, 200-meter backstroke mint in two minutes, 17.34 seconds, beating Taytay, Rizal’s Kristoff David.
David, an incoming student at the Colegio San Juan Letran and a prospect for Season 97 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, settled for the silver in 2:19.31.
Another rival, Marco Sayson of Negros Oriental, bagged the bronze in 2:25.63.
Dean, a 10th grader from Manuel S. Enverga University, said he just focused on improving his personal best, which used to be in the 2:18 range.
“Inisip ko lang po basagin iyung best time ko,” said Dean, who felt that most of his rivals were his equal in terms of strengths and weaknesses.
Lucena emerged as among the best performers of the seven-day sportsfest after it amassed a total of eight golds, five silvers and a bronze in swimming alone.
Meanwhile, young archers Jathniel Caleb Fernandez of Baguio City and Adrianna Jessie Magbojos of Sta. Rosa City shot their way to a five-gold medal efforts at the San Ildefonso Central School.
Fernandez, a nine-year-old Baguio Pines Family Learning Center third-grader came up with a five-gold sweep when he ruled the 10 meters (304), 15m (243), 20m (260), 30m (257) and a final result of 1064.
Magbojos had the same feat in the girls’ side, by taking the top finishes in the 10m, 15m, 20m, 30m and the total.
“Gusto niya talaga manalo,” said Randy Fernandez referring to his son Jathniel Caleb, who has trained under University of Baguio coach Alexis Requipo for more than a year.
Masbate became the most prolific podium finishers in athletics after coming up with four golds and five silvers at the Quirino Stadium.
Most of their top finishes came from Jireh Rance (boys 800-meters), the 1-2 finish of former Palaro elementary standout Leonelyn Compuesto and Realyn Lanuza in the 200-meter girls’ sprints, Courtney Trangia in girls’ discus throw, and Prince Branzuela in the boys’ discus throw in Day 1.
The following day, ninth grader Alessandra Capellan settled for second place to Pangasinan’s Marjorie Ragudos in the girls’ high jump, with Ragudos clearing 1.30 meters, and Capellan leaping to 1.25 meters.
Mico Villaran of Bacolod City, made the most out of his first and last stint in the country’s centerpiece grassroots development program as he captured two golds in the 110m and 200m hurdles.
The 15-year-old Romanito Maravilla, ninth-grader, was just a class of his own in reigning supreme in the 110m hurdles (15.17 seconds) and 200m hurdles (23.18).
In cycling’s individual team trial, Maritanya Krogg claimed her second gold by ruling the girls’ individual time trial for 13-15 years old in 12:39.240.
The 13-year-old Baesa High ninth-grader from Caloocan is seeking a three-gold sweep as she is also entered in the road race set today.
Also striking gold in the event that started and ended in front of the Provincial Capitol were Pangasinan’s Jerick Cabael (14:06.448) in the boys’ 13-and-below, Harvy Dolutan (22:32.823) in boys’ 14-15 and Aira Danara Gregorio (15:26.385) in girls’ 14-15.