by Kristel Satumbaga
Region 5's Lheslie De Lima (170) (MB photo | Rio Leonelle Deluvio)DAVAO City – Shoeless runner Lheslie De Lima of Bicol Region retained her secondary girls 3000m title yesterday while Northern Mindanao’s John Mike Lera eclipsed the secondary boys long jump mark at the start of the 2019 Palarong Pambansa at the University of Mindanao track oval here.
Running with only plasters wrapped around her feet, the 13-year-old De Lima led the pace before breaking away in the final 250 meters to clock in at 10 minutes and 22.42 seconds for the gold medal.
Northern Mindanao’s Camila Tubiano settled for silver for the second straight year with 10:32.32 while Central Luzon’s Lovely Cordovilla came in at 10:38.82 for the bronze.
“Kinabahan po ako pero binigay ko na lahat. Saka binilang ko na po yung ikot ko (I was nervous but I gave my best. And this time, I counted my laps),” said De Lima, referring to last year’s stint where she ran an extra lap after some confusion from race officials.
At the field, Lera leapt 7.39 meters on his last attempt to settle for silver behind Zamboanga Peninsula’s Algin Gomez at 7.55m in the secondary boys long jump before PATAFA officials stepped in.
Putting premium on Lera’s performance due to wind gauge, which saw him come in at 1.70 wind reading while Gomez soared at 2.8, Lera’s leap was recognized as a new meet record.
Wind gauge must measure below 2.0 during the jump.
Lera surpassed the 7.26m performance of Cagayan Valley’s Julian Fuentes made in 2012 in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
In chess, Calabarzon’s Daniel Quizon copped the secondary boys blitz event with 6 points at the Davao Chong Hua High School.
Also sharing the podium were CARAGA’s Cemberain Muanag in elementary boys blitz and Central Visayas’ Sara Olendo in secondary girls blitz.