BAGUIO CITY—Karl Eldrew Yulo lived up to expectations and collected seven gold medals for Manila in boys’ artistic gymnastics in the Batang Pinoy National Championships.
The 10-year-old brother of national gymnast Carlos Yulo ruled the floor exercise, vault, pommel horse, parallel bars, rings and horizontal bar to also dominate the individual all-around event to become the most decorated athlete so far in the games organized by the Philippine Sports Commission. Yulo credited his coach, Reyland Capellan, but the fifth-grader from Aurora Quezon Elementary School said his brother’s advise is incomparable. “I miss kuya because he now lives and trains in Japan. He gave me the techniques when I was just starting,” said Yulo, who won a total of nine gold medals in the past two Palarong Pambansa.
But Yulo wants to do better than his brother. “He is my idol but I want to beat him,” he said, smiling.
In triathlon, Joseph Miguel Quirino and Marielle Estreba topped the boys and girls 13-15 categories. A silver medalist in cycling’s criterium last Tuesday, Quirino of Malaybalay City dominated the 400-meter swim/6-km bike/2-km run race in 19 minutes and 32 seconds.
His teammate, Jan Paul Alexandrie Orong, finished second in 20:26 seconds, while Zedrick James Borja of San Pedro (Laguna) got the bronze in 20:34 seconds.
“I like this victory. All my sacrifices paid off,” Quirino said.
Cebu Province’s Estreba, on the other hand, won her first triathlon competition in 50:40 seconds.
“I’m happy because it’s my first time to be a champion. I’m always second or third. I just focused on my goal,” Estreba said.
Moira Frances Erediano of Lapu-Lapu City and Honny May Yanong of Laguna province completed the podium with similar times of 51:16.
Mary Grace Joson of Camarines Sur, meanwhile, captured her second gold in girls’ javelin throw. The 15-year-old Joson threw the spear to 36 meters, easily beating Tina Rosete (34.80 m) of Ilagan City and Marian Milloroso (34.41 m) of Humancia, Aklan.
Arjay Rios of Pangasinan prevailed in the boys division with a throw of 52.11 m. Christian Zamora of Leyte province (50.08 m) and Jan Mervin Francisco of Dasmariñas City (48.39 m) got silver and bronze, respectively.
Medals in archery were split evenly at the Baguio State University.
Gabrielle Monica Bidaure of Negros Oriental clinched two golds in girls 30m and 40m distance, Seam Jonathan Tanco of Marikina City ruled the boys 20m and 30m events, whie Jared Cole Sia of Dagupan collected two golds in 30m and 50m categories.