Stags' Guarte nails 2nd NC track gold

MANILA, Philippines - San Sebastian’s Mervin Guarte outclassed the field in the 800-meter run to nail his second gold medal in the seniors’ division while Emilio Aguinaldo’s John Michael Lanuza sprinted to his third gold medal in the high school by ruling the 100m dash in the 87th NCAA athletics competition at the Rizal track and field oval yesterday.

Guarte, who overpowered his rivals in the 3,000m steeplechase two days ago, continued to dominate the opposition, turning in a one-minute, 52.70-second clocking to top the 800m run. Perpetual Help’s Michael Villamor came in a distant second in 1.56.60 seconds while San Sebastian teammate Justin Tabunda checked in third in 1.57.60.

“I’m getting close to my goal of winning three to four gold medals in this event because I want to carry my school to the overall championship,” said the 19-year-old Guarte, a product of the Palarong Pambansa, in Filipino.

Guarte, the Most Outstanding Athlete in track and field two years ago, is set to compete in the 5,000m, 1,500m and 4x100m relay events held at presstime.

Like Guarte, Lanuza also sustained his top form as he ruled the century dash in 11.76 seconds to add to his victories in the long jump and triple jump in Monday’s opener at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City.