Air Force cadet Glyzzel Anne Monsanto ruled the women’s 100-meter dash in breakaway fashion on Tuesday, Sept. 19, to cap a fruitful campaign and become the first triple gold medalist in the ROTC Games Luzon leg at the Cavite State University track oval in Indang.

Monsanto topped the event in a time of 14.0 seconds, nearly four seconds ahead of teammate Hannah Trisha Viloria (16.1), as the  students from Fullbright College in Puerto Princesa, Palawan made it a 1-2 finish in the competition jointly organized by the Department of National Defense and Commission on Higher Education. 

Last Monday, the former long jump and triple jump specialist had earlier won the women’s 200-meter run (28.6), then powered the Fullbright College quartet that included Viloria, Hazel Gerelina Anas and Jean Claire Agawin to a breezy victory in the women’s 4x100-meter relay (1:01.2).

Army cadet and University of Baguio student Jesylmay Licup shared the spotlight, completing a sprint double in winning the women’s century dash in 13.2 seconds for her second mint of the meet also supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Office of Sen. Francis Tolentino.

Joining the list of multiple gold medalists was Air Force cadet James Borja of Quirino State University in sprinting to victory in the men’s 100-meter run for also his second mint after anchoring QSU to triumph in the men’s 4x100-meter relays (53.2) last Monday. 

“Hindi inaakala na mananalo ako ng three golds kasi huminto ako sa paglalaro during the pandemic at ngayon lang nakabalik. Hindi rin ito ang mga regular events tapos Fullbright College is not known for joining competitions so masaya ako,” Monsanto, 22, a fourth year BS Education student, said.

“Masayang-masaya po ako at hindi lang ako nakapagbigay karangalan sa Army pero pati na rin sa aking school ng University of Baguio,” said Licup of her golden double in the meet also backed by the Tagaytay City government led by Mayor and Philippine Olympic Committee President Bambol Tolentino. 

In online esports, San Sebastian College-Recoletos de Cavite swept its three matches in Call of Duty Mobile to capture the gold medal in the Army division of the Luzon qualifiers of the meet likewise supported by the Indang city government led by Mayor Perfecto Fidel.  

Batangas State University-Alangilan won twice to top the competition in the Navy division while Tanauan Institute was the champion  in the Air Force division.    

With the exception of track and field, only the gold medalists in the various events of the different sports will advance to the ROTC Games national finals scheduled later in the year, according to organizing committee member Rachel Dumuk.

“Only the gold medalists in the other sports will make it to the ROTC Games national finals while the gold and silver medalists in athletics get to qualify,” Dumuk said.