Cebuana lifter shows great power

ILOCOS SUR, Philippines — In the very sport where the country has high hopes of winning its next Olympic gold medal, Hannah Shene Cabalida of Cebu City served notice of her intention of reaching for the stars.

Cabalida was nothing less than impressive in claiming a weightlifting gold in the Philippine Sports Commission’s Batang Pinoy at the Caoayan Gym here yesterday.

She lifted a barbell heavier than her 30-kilogram frame – 34kg in snatch and 40kg in clean and jerk for a 74kg total – in her gold-medal showing.

And that mint could serve as a springboard to launching the nine-year-old third-grader’s quest to emulate Olympian Elreen Ando, a fellow Cebuana, and Hidilyn Diaz, who delivered the country’s historic Olympic gold in last year’s Tokyo Games.

Cabalida wasn’t alone as Elaine Jane Calunsag, an 11-year-old from Bayawan, Negros Oriental, likewise set in motion her own ambitious bid by topping the girls’ 26kg class with a 55kg total – 20kg in snatch and 35kg in clean and jerk.

Also coming through with worthy performances were Lucena’s Kristian Yugo Cabana and La Union’s Kyla Louise Bulaga, who joined Rizal’s Aubrey Tom as the games’ first double-gold winners at the Quirino Stadium pool center and Maritanya Krog, who emerged as one of the first four cycling winners in the criterium races that started and finished in front of the Provincial Capitol.

Cabana clocked 1:5.40 in capturing his second mint in the boys’ 100-meter butterfly to add to his 200m individual medley he won the day before while Bulaga topped the girls’ 100m fly in 1:12.70 after she ruled the 200m IM.

They joined Tom, who reigned supreme in 100m free and 200m IM the day before, in the elite cast of double-gold medalists.

Krog, who belonged to a family of cyclists that include elder siblings and former national team members Rex and Mathilda, took the limelight in ruling the 13-and-under girls’ criterium in 37:43.519, ahead of Iloilo’s Maria Louise Alejado (39:12.067) and Calapan’s Jhanah Abella (39:16.426).

“My dream is to become a national team member and to compete abroad,” said Krog after her biggest race triumph to date.

Also striking gold in cycling were Emmanuel Arago of Batangas City, Jacqueline Joy de Guzman of Quezon City and Chris Andreu Ferrer of Cebu City.

Also at the Quirino Stadium, long jumper Sophia Angela Mae dela Vega of San Jose City delivered the first golden feat in centerpiece athletics after she reigned supreme with a leap of 4.77 meters.

Dela Vega bested a field of 37 jumpers including Jesalyn Materdan of Masbate and Angelica Jane Balason of Quezon City, who copped the silver and bronze medal with 4.52m and 4.37m, respectively.

In the afternoon races, Rizal’s Aubrey Tom emerged the event’s first triple-gold medalist after she conquered the girls’ 400m individual medley that came on the heels of her 200m IM and 100m freestyle triumphs the day before.