CEBU CITY. – Drawing inspiration from sports icons they look up to comes naturally for outstanding athletes in their drive to excel.
Runner Asia Mae Paraase and long jumper Jyane Kirt Cantor, who stood out on opening day of the Palarong Pambansa at the Cebu City Sports Center track oval here Thursday, are no different.
In the case of Paraase, who won the meet’s first gold medal in the girls’ 3,000-meter run, it was her mother, former promising athlete Sarah Mae Abucay-Paraase, who continues to motivate her to perform well.
“My mother failed to compete in the 2006 (Doha) Asian Games because she gave birth to me at that time and was unable to compete in the national team tryouts,” said the pretty athlete, who also idolizes Cebuana marathoner Mary Joy Tabal.
A strong contender in the women’s 400 and 800-meter races, the elder Paraase also missed the Asian meet in Amman, Jordan the following year as she was forced to nurse her newborn baby daughter.
“Kaya gusto kong makarating sa Asian Games na hindi nakamit ng mama ko,” said Asia May, the eldest of three children, who shifted to the longer distances so she could compete in fun runs and help with her family’s needs.
“Kayo kapag weekends, wala po akong inuurungan,” said the athlete, who revealed that she wins P1,000 to P3,000 in 3K and 5K runs and turns them over to her mom.
Cantor, who broke the 22-year-old record in the elementary boys long jump with a leap of 6.14 meters, disclosed that two-time Southeast Asian Games decathlon champ Aries Toledo is his role medal.
“Siya (Toledo) ang idol ko kasi siya ang nagturo sa akin para gumaling sa long jump,” said Cantor, who eclipsed by 10 centimeters the previous mark of 6.04 set by Davao’s Jeremie Tamles in the 2002 games in Naga City, Camarines Sur.
