VIGAN City, Ilocos Sur—Puerto Princesa City’s Miguel Carlos emerged as the most successful athlete of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)-Batang Pinoy National Finals with seven gold medals in archery he snatched on Wednesday.
Carlos, 12, a seventh grader at the Palawan National High School, frolicked at the San Ildefonso Central School range, sending General Santos City’s Adrie Sabdielle Gonzaga to the silver in the boys’ under-13 Olympic round.
He teamed up with Lizette Mayumi Bagnol in beating a General Santos team of Samantha Isabel Loreno and Romee Jonathan Rioja in the mixed team event.
Carlos also won gold medals in the 20 meters, 25m, 30m and 40m and a 1440 total in the games that came to a close on Wednesday.
“We were surprised he got seven gold medals,” said his father Ramil Carlos. “But he deserves it because he trains so hard.”
Two more archers, Jathniel Caleb Fernandez of Baguio City and Adrianna Jessie Magbojos also made heads turn. They topped the under-10 boys and girls’ Olympic round to each end up with six gold medals apiece.
Leonelyn Compuesto, meanwhile, led Masbate Province’s domination of athletics with five golds, while Baguio City was the most dominant local government unit (LGU).
The 4-foot-11 Grade 10 student at the Masbate Sports Academy, Compuesto—who bared that he learned to run fast when she was chased by a stray dog at home in Barangay Puro Placer, captured her fourth and fifth gold medals by in the girls’ under-15 100 meters and the 4×400-m relay.
“Every time I’m running and the other runners are near me, I always remember the big dog that chased me so I just keep running fast,” said Compuesto, daughter of a construction worker, at the Quirino Stadium here in Bantay.
Compuesto clocked 13.11.103, beating South Cotabato’s Schenley Faye Ombid (13.11.109) in a photo finish. Angel Villagracia of Capiz settled for the bronze with 13.47.
Baguio City topped the medals race with 29 golds, 27 silvers and 35 bronzes while Laguna was second with an 18-10-13 (gold-silver-bronze) haul and Quezon City third with 15-9-13.
Rounding out the top 10 were Lapu Lapu (14-6-5), General Santos (13-12-10), Pasig (13-9-9), Iloilo City (12-10-13), Masbate (11-7-6), Lucena (11-7-3) and Davao City (9-13-28).
Host Ilocos Sur Gov. Jerry Singson and PSC chairman Noli Eala were both delighted at the competition’s successful turnout while sponsor Milo gave out special awards named “Pursigido Awards” at the closing ceremony at the Quirino Stadium in Bantay.
Compuesto, who won gold in the 200, 400 and 4×100, was shortlisted for inclusion by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association for the fourth Asian Youth Athletics Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from April 27 to 30.
Compueto’s five gold medals powered Masbate Province to the top of athletics with 11 gold, seven silver and six bronze medals.
The other gold medalists for Masbate were Courtney Jewel Trangia in girls’ discus throw and shotput and Paris Saldivar in triple jump. Prince Charles Branzuela topped the boys’ discus throw and Jireh Rance ruled the boys’ 800.