Erediano pockets second Batang Pinoy gold

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Philippines – Moira Frances Erediano topped the triathlon for girls 11-12 years old to nail her second gold medal in the 2016 Batang Pinoy National Championship at the DavNor Sports and Tourism Complex here yesterday.

Erediano came out of the swim leg at third place behind Alison Noble of San Fernando, La Union and Cebu Province teammate Jeanna Mariel Canete but turned in the best times in the bike and run stages to clinch the gold in 24 minutes and 19 seconds.

The victory came after the 12-year-old rising star from Cebu Province topped cycling’s criterium event for 10-13 years old to emerge the games’ first two gold medal winner from two different sports since Cebu’s Yuan Chiongbian ruled cycling and triathlon in the annual multi-sports meet for students and out-of-school youth two years ago in Bacolod.

“I’m happy to win again,” said Erediano, a Grade Six Sacred Heart-Ateneo de Cebu student.

Noble and Canete settled for silver and bronze with clockings of 25:34 and 27:00, respectively.

Erediano, meanwhile, will be seeking three more golds as she vies in duathlon, a run-bike-run event, and cycling’s road race or massed start and individual time trial today and tomorrow, respectively.

Another Cebu Province bet Karen Andrea Manayon also topped triathlon girls 13-15 bracket in 40.16 minutes.

Manayon, a 14-year-old Grade 8 student at Talisay City Science High School, bested Muntinlupa’s Everly Janirie Macalalad, who clocked 40:20, and last year’s winner Nicole Danielle Eijansantos from Quezon City, who wound up third in 40:49.

Manayon, however, was nearly disqualified after failing to put her cap and goggles in the basket during the swim-bike transition. But her coach Roland Remolino protested and the organizers eventually decided to slap Manayon a 20-second deduction instead.

“I was a little sad when they said I was disqualified. Good thing my coach (Remolino) protested,” said Manayon, who was 10th in this same event last year in Danao City, Cebu.

In athletics, Agusan del Sur’s Raymund Lopez took the 5000m gold for boys 16-17 years old in 17:06.80 and Negros Occidental’s Trexie dela Torre grabbed the long jump gold for girls 13-15 years old with a leap of 5.17m.

Pangasinan’s Frances James San Gabriel of Pangasinan and Naga’s Rose Bok snatched the 2000m walk gold medals for boys and girls 16-17 with times of 11:24.0 and 12:47.2, respectively.

Aklan’s Jil Iron Tabuena snared the boys’ shotput gold for 16-17 from Bago City’s Kervi Abelo and Dasmarinas, Cavite’s Tyron Ezreqiel Flores with a heave of 14.76m in his fifth attempt.

Abelo and Flores had 13.93m and 13.86m throws against 13.59 by Tabuena after three attempts but the latter put in his best effort in his fifth try to snatch the gold.

Over at the new Tagum City Hall grounds, Davao City dominated Day Two of cycling after winning five of the six gold medals disputed behind Christian Acedo (BMX 13-under), Mario Buro (mountain bike 13-under), Myra Regina Acedo (mtb 15-under), Richard Handomon (mtb 17-under) and Myra Regina Acedo (mtb 17-under).