SPRINTER Pi Durden Wangkay of Biñan, Laguna delivered the worthiest performance yesterday as he emerged the fastest boy in the Batang Pinoy at the Ramon V. Mitra track oval in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
Mr. Wangkay, 15, timed in 10.88 seconds in the 100 meters (m) and broke his personal best of 11.09 he registered in the national U18 Championship at the PhilsSports track last May.
He also came close to touching the national juniors mark of 10.74 set by Daniel Noval in the Thailand Open 12 years ago.
So fast was Mr. Wangkay that he could have won the 100m in the older, U18 section and bested the winner there — Quezon City’s Elreb Taduran who had 11.08 — and eclipse the 11.3 mark set by Las Piñas’ Alfredo Taduran a year ago in that same discipline in Manila.
Putting icing on Mr. Wangkay’s cake was his completion of a rare sprint treble after he also topped the 200m and 400m days before in this meet bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission.
Emerging the prince of the pool was Arvin Taguinota of Pasig, who captured his sixth gold after ruling the boys 12-13 4x50m medley relay where he teamed up with Charles Canlas, Jefferson Sabularse and Marcelino Picardal III and timed in 2:03.69.
Mr. Taguinota, whose coach is Olympian Jessie Lacuna, also reigned supreme in the 200m individual medley, 100m freestyle, 100m and 200m back and 4x50m freestyle relay.
In freestyle wrestling, Surigao del Norte scooped up four mints thanks to Rose Jean Jamero (U15 38kg), Shane Carillo (U15 42kg), Quinnie Bongado (U17 43kg), and Lyka Dalman (U17 57kg). — Joey Villar
