ILOCOS SUR—An eagle-eyed archer and a rising sprinter who dreams of becoming the next Lydia De Vega shot their way to stardom with multiple victories Wednesday, Dec. 21, at the close of the 2022 Batang Pinoy National Championships in various venues here.
Twelve-year-old Miguel Carlos of Puerto Princesa City stamped his class in the boys 13-under Olympic round before teaming up with Lizette Mayumi Bagnol in the mixed team event for a seven-gold medal haul at the San Ildefonso Central School field.
A Grade 7 student of Palawan National School who started the sport at age 5, Carlos’ earlier victories came in the 20 meters, 25m, 30m, 40m and 1440 events to become the most bemedalled athlete in this multisport grassroots competition of the Philippine Sports Commission.
“We’re surprised that he won so many golds because this is his first Batang Pinoy, but he deserves it because he works hard in training,” said Puerto Princesa team coach Ramil Carlos, who is also Miguel’s father.
Raking in six gold medals apiece were nine-year-olds Jathniel Caleb Fernandez of Baguio City and Adrianna Jessie Magbojos of Sta. Rosa City following their feats in the boys and girls 10-under Olympic round.
Fernandez and Magbojos both won in the 10m, 15m, 20m, 30m and 1440 in the earlier days.
At the Quirino Stadium in Bantay, Masbate standout Leonelyn Compuesto completed a sprint sweep of five events after ruling the 100-meter dash by a hairline of a second against South Cotabato’s Schenley Faye Ombid.
Compuesto timed 13.11 (.103) while Ombid posted 13.11 (.109).
She returned more than an hour later and teamed up with Realyn Lanuza, Jesalyn Materdan and Alessandra Capellan to rule the girls 4x400m relay in 4 minutes and 14.96sec.
“Binigay ko po talaga lahat kasi last day na po, gusto ko pong makuha yung five golds,” said Compuesto, who also reigned supreme in the 200m, 400m and 4x100m relay with the same teammates.
“Idol ko po talaga si Lydia De Vega. Gusto ko po na ako ang pumalit sa kanya,” added the Masbate Sports Academy standout, who only started the sport three years ago.
Pangasinan’s Jolo Mondero shared the limelight with Compuesto by becoming the fastest male runner in this edition after topping the boys 100m in 12.07sec ahead of South Cotabato’s Gian Loplop (12.22sec) and Cebu City’s Myles Tutor (12.27sec).
In chess at the Baluarte in Vigan, Zhaoyu Capilitan of Cagayan de Oro claimed her third mint in the girls’ 11-under team blitz with Ashzley Aya Nicole Paquinol as the two finished with a combined score of 11 points.
Capilitan’s other golden efforts came in individual and team standard events the day before.
She was gunning for a fourth and fifth gold in the individual and rapid events at press time.