By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA VIGAN, Ilocos Sur—Records fall on the second day of athletics competition even as SOCCSKSARGEN bared its fangs in arnis courtesy of Princess Sheryl Valdez in the 2018 Palarong Pambansa in different venues here. NCR’s Kasandra Hazel Alcantara eclipsed the 26-year-old Palaro record in secondary girls’ shotput by heaving 11.88 meters on her fifth attempt, erasing the 11.20m mark set by NCR bet Marites Barrios in 1992. Alcantara, a Grade 12 student from University of the East-Manila, actually reset the record on her second try with 11.70m and went on to dominate the field on her third throw with 11.67m. She also posted 11.85m on her final attempt at the University of Northern Philippines athletics field. It was a sweet feeling for Alcantara, who is in her last Palaro appearance before plunging into the collegiate scene next year. It also further affirmed her decision to go back into the competitive sport after stopping for three years when she was 13 years old. “Napabarkada ako nun kasi feeling ko, mas masaya kasama yung barkada. Bumalik lang ako sa pagiging atleta nung third year high school ako,” said Alcantara, who also tried marathon but opted to concentrate on throwing events when she gained weight. Western Visayas’ Jamela De Asis also eclipsed the old mark but settled for silver with 11.29m, while Bicol’s Mary Jean Maloloy-on came in bronze with 10.61m. Francis San Gabriel of host Ilocos, meanwhile, stunned NCR’s Bryan Oxales in record-breaking fashion by resetting the latter’s 2017 Palaro 10:11.30 mark in the 2000m walk with a time of 9:33.01 at the President Elpidio Quirino Stadium. At the San Vicente Municipal gym, Valdez anchored SOCCSKSARGEN by reaping four of the region’s five-gold haul in arnis. Valdez, a 12-year-old native of Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat, dominated the elementary girls individual anyo double weapon, single weapon and sing espada y daga before teaming up with Maria Veronica Ilagan and Stephane Mones for the anyo team event single weapon gold. The other gold medal came from Andrei Fritz Alcarioto, who ruled the elementary boys anyo individual single weapon.