LAOAG. — Running barefoot, Chrissia Mae Tajarros of Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) finished a distant runner-up to Asia Paraase of Region 7 (Central Visayas) in the girls’ secondary 3,000-meter race of the Palarong Pambansa last year in Cebu City.
Sporting new track shoes she finally got accustomed to, Tajarros, 13, emerged the runaway winner in the event Monday here, earning the honor as the first gold medal winner of the 65th Palarong Pambansa at the Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Sr. Memorial Stadium track oval here.
The dusky Grade 9 student of Tanauan National High School in Leyte clocked ten minutes and 18.6 seconds in the premier sportsfest for high school and elementary school athletes supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and organized by the Department of Education.
Also a mainstay of the Leyte Sports Academy, Tajarros lapped several runners and finished virtually 30 minutes ahead of silver medalist Maryl Mae Magbanua of Region 13 (10.48.4) while Ilocos Norte’s Nathalei Faey Miguel, a protege of Laoag City Mayor Michael Keon, took the bronze (10:50.4).
After her outstanding performance, the athlete sobbed in the arms of LSA coach Damas Oledan Jr., who said they shed tears of joy because of all the sacrifices and hard work they had spent in securing the gold medal.
“Sinanay ko na siya sa mainit, kadalasan hanggang 11 ng umaga kasi alam naming magigig mainit dito,” the coach revealed.
The eldest of four siblings of a fish vendor and stay-at-home mom, Tajarros said she feared that she would not make it to the national Palaro “because may muscle pain akong iniinda at akala ko hindi na ako makakapag laro dito kaya din po ako naiyak. Akalo ko hindi ko mahi-hit ‘yung qualifying standard sa regionals.
“Gusto ko pong makag-Olympics at tulungan ang mga magulang ko.”
Oledan said that he began training the girl using regular track shoes after the Cebu Palaro “kasi iba ‘yung kamot sa track ng may sapatos,” adding she still ran barefoot in last year’s Asean Schools Games in Da Nang, Vietnam, finishing fourth in the 3,000 and 1,500-meter races.
Underscoring that weightlifting truly runs in the family, Matthew Diaz, the nephew of Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Hidylin Diaz-Naranjo, ruled the boys 48-kilogram division with a lift of 166 kilos, a new personal best, in the discipline that made its Palaro debut as a demo sport.
With Hidilyn, the tournament director, looking on pensively at the sidelines, Diaz hoisted 73 kilos in the snatch and 93 kilos in the clean-and-jerk to secure the mint.
His total lift was 21 kilos heavier than Region 9’s Generosmel Cortez of Zamboanga City, who had 145 with 70 kgs in the snatch and 75 in the clean-and-jerk. National Capital Region’s Rayne Joy Espina (131, 55-76) settled for the bronze.
“Sobrang saya ko po na nanalo ako kasi hindi ko ini-expect kung sino ang magiging kalaban ko rito,” said Diaz, 14, who won the gold in the boys 43kg class in the Batang Pinoy National Championships last year in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
The Grade 9 Jalajala National High School student said he transferred two years ago from Zamboanga City so he could train at the center set up by her aunt and coach-husband Julius Naranjo.
“Medyo masaya pero kinabahan din kay Matthew because he exceeded his personal best,” said Diaz-Naranjo, who took his nephew to the Jalajala facility in 2022 from her gym in her hometown of Barangay Mampang, Zamboanga City.
In other morning events, Calabarzon’s Sam Garcia topped the girls’ discus throw in the elementary division with a heave of 33.97 meters while Bicol Region’s Courtney Jewel Trianga was tops in the girls’ high school category with a throw of 36.72 meters.
Northern Mindanao’s Khint Gimarangan leaped 5.50 meters for the gold in the elementary boys’ long jump, while John Paul Aguinaldo secured the gold medal in the high school division with a jump of 6.90 meters, relegating Calabarzon’s MJ John Llora to the silver on the countback.
WINNERS: Chrissia Mae Tajarros of Eastern Visayas pulls away to an easy victory in the girls’ secondary school 3,000-meter race while Calabarzon’s Matthew Diaz, the nephew of Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Hidylin Diaz-Naranjo, easily rules the boys’ secondary 48-kilogram class in weightlifting.
