PH takes 4 golds of ASEAN School Games

RECORD-BREAKER. Evangelene Caminong sets a new Philippine junior record in high jump. Photo of girls' coach Addy Arca on Facebook

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines won four gold medals – all from women's athletics – during the first weekend of 10th ASEAN School Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

After Evangelene Caminong reigned over the high jump and established a new Philippine junior mark on Saturday, July 21, the country won 3 more gold medals the day after Trexie dela Torre (jump in length), Ann Catherine Quitoy (javeline) and Jessel Lumapas (400m).

Caminong – born in San Vicente, Palawan, but competing for Dasmariñas, Cavite in the National Junior Open Division – won the high jump in a new Philippine junior mark of 1.74 meters.

A thrilling victory in the girls 'long jump and a girls' javelin triumph came from a high school in the Western Visayas, which served as the hub of the region's athletic success. .

Trexie dela Torre, who hung on to win the long jump of one centimeter, and the javelin winner Ann Catherine Quitoy came from Romanito Maravilla High Schooin Barangay Estefania in the city of Bacolod.

Jessel Lumapas of the General Trias, Cavite dominated the women's 400m in 56.46 while the Philippine team surpassed her set of 3 gold medals in 2017.

The Delicate Dela Torre took the lead in his third 5.84-meter jump, dislodging Mahidra Hanis Bhanti Ishak of Malaysia and Hong Thanh Giang of Vietnam, who had led the way with 5.83 meters

In the next 3 jumps, Dela Torre did not block his attempts. Ishak jumped 5.55, made a mistake and closed with 5.78 while Giang finished with 4.43 meters.

Quitoy threw the javelin 49.18 meters.

Addy Arca, the girls coach, said that she and her brother Miguel coached Romanito Maravilla High for 9 years, consistently producing a stream of good athletes. Three years ago, they also drew attention when Jerry Belibestre won the long jump bronze medal at the Asian Youth Championship in Qatar. – Rappler.com