Cebu's Erediano cops second gold in Batang Pinoy triathlon

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte – Cebu Province's Moira Frances Erediano on Monday claimed her second gold after topping the triathlon event for girls 11-12 years old in the 2016 Batang Pinoy National Championship at the DavNor Sports and Tourism Complex here.

Erediano, 12, came out of the waters at third place behind Alison Noble of San Fernando, La Union and Cebu Province teammate Jeanna Mariel Canete, but made up for it with fastest times in  the bike and run parts to capture the gold with a clocking of 24 minutes and 19 seconds.

It was Erediano's second gold after she also reigned supreme in cycling's criterium event for 10-13 years old the day before to emerge the games' first ever multiple gold medal winner from at two different sports since Cebu's Yuan Chiongbian ruled cycling and triathlon in this annual multi-sports meet for in and out-of-school youth two years ago in Bacolod.

"I'm happy," said the shy Erediano, a Grade Six Sacred Heart-Ateneo de Cebu student.

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

Erediano will be eyeing three more golds as she plunges into action in duathlon, a run-bike-run event, and cycling's road race or massed start and individual time trial on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Another Cebu Province bet, Karen Andrea Manayon, came out victorious in the triathlon girls 13-15 bracket in 40.16 minutes.

Manayon, a 14-year-old Grade Eight student at Talisay City Science High School, timed in 40:16, besting Muntinlupa's Everly Janirie Macalalad, who clocked 40:20, and Quezon City's Nicole Danielle Eijansantos, last year's winner who settled for a bronze this time in 40:49.

Manayon, however, was nearly disqualified after she failed to put her cap and goggles in the basket during the swim-bike transition. After some heated words exchanged between her coach Roland Remolino and organizers, she was slapped 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 Filipino.

In centerpiece 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 girls for 13-15 years old with a leap of 5.17m.

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

Aklan's Jil Iron Tabuena stole the boys' shotput gold for 16-17 from Bago City's Kervi Abelo of and Dasmarinas, Cavite's Tyron Ezreqiel Flores by heaving a 14.76m on his fifth attempt.

Abelo and Flores had 13.93m and 13.86m against 13.59 by Tabuena after three attempts but the latter mustered all his strength and registered the gold-clinching throw.

Over at the new Tagum City Hall grounds, Davao City dominated Day Two of cycling after harvesting five of the six mints staked, there thanks to wins by 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).

General Santos' Jasper Erald Caisip prevented a Davao City sweep by pocketing the mountain bike boys for 17-under.

In archery, Neo Jene Daciego of La Union and Jemuelle Espiritu of Baguio City came through with a pair of golds in the Olympic round yeoman boys and girls events and the qualification round.

Also striking golds were Jeremiah Adrian Basadre of Koronadal and Danielle Espiritu of Baguio City while Vynes Jade Diano of South Cotabato and Koronadal’s John Carlo Loreno.

In pencak silat at the Robinson's Mall, Zamboanga City's Alessandra Bernardo (girls’ 7-11), Tyron Bernardo (boys’ 11-14) and Hannah Leano (girls’ 11-14) each harvested two golds with triumphs in tunggal event and regu.

Aklan Jasper Jay Lachica won in tunggal before leading his squad to gold in team regu.