UC pads lead in Cebu City Olympics

CEBU, Philippines — The University of Cebu stayed on top of the heap in the secondary division of the 27th Cebu City Olympics at the Cebu City Sports Center yesterday.

The defending champions went unassailably ahead with their 23 gold, nine silver and nine bronze medals after a dominating performance in the medal-rich athletics and swimming

USC is at second with 14 gold, 14 silver and seven bronze medals, while University of the Visayas is currently at third spot with 10-15-4 gold-silver-bronze medal tally.

UC grabbed 10 golds, one silver and six bronzes in the athletics giving its athletic department head Jessica Jawad-Honoridez a nice birthday gift.

Martin Cris Ablangue, Jhuvan Jehn Baculot, Mart Chan Torregosa and Elyzza May Salinas handed gold medals for UC in athletics.

Ablangue won the 500m run, Baculot reigned supreme in the high jump,  while Torregosa was the fastest in the 400m hurdles as Salinas ruled the 100m hurdles.

Meanwhile, the wards of coach Rolando Alvarez were relentless at the pool with Karen Mae Indaya leading the charge with three gold medals.

Indaya topped the 400m freestyle with a time of 5:9.53 followed by Marielle Estreba of Unit 6 with a 5:34.50 clocking. Patrice Tiffany Jacalan settled for third with 5:44.90.

Indaya then ruled the 100m backstroke and 200m individual medley. Karen Mae’s brother Jobert also delivered a gold medal via the 200m breastroke, while Mary Pauline won the 200m freestyle for the elementary girls.

Justine Reign Garrido, for her part, had a record breaking performance in the 200m breastroke. She registered a time of 3:02.19 enough to erase the old record of Khawinda Kuhn of 3:02.62.

Other gold medalists for UC are Giovannie Seth Gealon,  Bencynt Luage, Kristina Angelika Torres push the girls’ 200m and 400m medley relay team.

In the elementary division, Unit VII powered by UV took the driver seat with its 24 gold, 10 silver and one bronze medals.

Unit V dropped to second place with 19 golds, 18 silvers and nine bronzes, while Unit 1 wound up third with five golds and two silvers. (FREEMAN)