Del Prado, Cawid hailed PNG fastest

LINGAYEN, Philippines – Isidro del Prado Jr. nipped fellow national team mainstay Anfernee Lopena to rule the men’s century dash while Baguio City’s Melva Cawid topped the distaff side in the Philippine National Games at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here yesterday.

Del Prado clocked 10.87 seconds to bag the gold with Lopena settling for silver in 10.96 and Allan Paul Plana of Rizal Technological University clocking 11.34 seconds for bronze.

Cawid shared the 100m dash honors with a 13.51-second clocking as she toppled Langie May Meden of Davao City as up-and-coming track star Karen Janario of UST failed to see action for failing to go through the regional qualifying.

Janario, the reigning UAAP MVP on her rookie year at the Espana-based school, also failed to finish her pet 100m hurdles after she tripped the third-to-the-last hurdle and bruised her left knee.

“I’m fine. I would like to redeem myself and compete in the 200m dash and 4x100m relay,” said the 16-year-old Janario, who won four golds in the UAAP.

Meanwhile, FEU’s William Galceran topped the boys’ 100m dash in 11.18, beating Mapua’s Philip Christian Austria (11.57) and Cebu City’s Benjamin Reynes (11.58).

Rosemarrie Olorvida of Leyte Sports Academy ruled the 100m dash for girls in 12.95 seconds, outsprinting Cebu City’s Lynette Urzua (13.13 )and teammate Leah Joan Creer (13.48).

Negros’ Jose Jerry Belibestre dominated the boys’ long jump with a 7.23-m effort, beating  Aristeo del Pena of Mandaluyong (7.17m) and national team’s Mark Vincent Ramos (7m).  

Daniella Daynata of Caloocan took the gold in girls’ shotput with a 10.64m heave, defeating national team member Aira Teodosio (10.08 ) and Maryland Torres (9.60).