Dapitan Palaro:

Tayco gets gold in long jump, silver in century dash

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Jasmine Tayco of Aklan bagged the gold in elementary girls' long jump, contributing to the impressive haul of Western Visayas to 13 golds in athletics competition in Day Four of the 2011 Palarong Pambansa annual meet in Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte.

The gold-winning effort of Tayco with a leap of 4.79 meters powered Western Visayas (Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz, Negros Occidental, Antique and Guimaras) for a 1-2 finish in long jump event with teammate Kimberly Natan in her best jump of 4.67 meters. Cotabato region's bet Cristine Joy Jorban got the bronze medal in 4.48 meters.

Tayco also placed second after her 13.42 seconds clocking in 100 meter dash finals behind Keithly Josephine Pano of Cordillera Administrative Region. Pano clocked the best time of 13.3 seconds for the 100 meters sprint gold for elementary girls. Shaira Mae Caballero of Western Visayas bagged the century dash bronze in 13.43 seconds.

Tayco and three other Aklanon athletes are competing in athletics along with two boxers, two swimmers and two volleyball players, both from elementary and secondary level, in the ongoing Palarong Pambansa from May 8 to 14.

Rhea Castellano of Western Visayas also breezed home for the gold in the elementary girls' 400 meters hurdles with a 1.08.86 clocking to pull away from Paula Mae Bardaje of the National Capital Region (1.09.81) and Madel Kilaton of Northern Mindanao (1.09.85).

Natan also scored gold in triple jump to give her region the third gold in elementary girls' athletics Wednesday with a leap of 10.21 meters. Catherine Repe of Mimaropa settled for the silver in 9.89 meters and Rosnani Pamaybay of Northern Mindanao took the bronze in 9.71 meters.

Jovelyn Naotario saved the day for Cordillera by winning the javelin throw in 38.22 meters. Cheryl Ann Patricio, representing Western Visayas, threw the spear in 34.65 meters for the silver and Leanie Rose Asi of Calabarzon in 33.78 meters for the bronze.

In secondary girls' 400 meters hurdles, Rieveneth Jayed Penarubia of Western Visayas crossed the finish line for the gold in 1.05.73 followed by teammate Daisry Juanillo (1.06.33). Rocena Chua of the National Capital Region took the bronze in 1.06.47.

Maika de Oro of Western Visayas also grabbed the gold in secondary girls shot put with a heave of 10.50 meters. Riza Faith Sombilla, also of Western Visayas, took the silver in 9.63 meters and Central Luzon's bet Lei Anne Tan got the bronze in 9.61 meters.

Michelle Palmares of Calabarzon took the top spot in secondary girls' triple jump in 11.62 meters followed by Leemarie carugda of Western Visayas (11.47 meters) and Marie Cris Caintic of Davao Region (11.13 meters).

Meanwhile, the quartet of Matthew Crisostomo, Luke Al Quinn, Carlos Jaime Gonzales and Ryle Joseph Singson of Western Visayas topped the elementary boys' tennis team competition. Western Visayas secondary boys' volleyball is leading the Group A in the preliminaries after defeating Caraga Region, 25-21, 25-18 and Cordillera Administrative Region in three sets, 25-27, 28-26 and 25-21.