FROM the foothills of Mt. Apo came two exceptional teenage girls who defied the odds to exceed expectations and to crown themselves double champions on Day 2 of the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet 2019 athletics competition at the University of Mindanao (UM) track oval Tuesday, January 29, in Matina, Davao City.
Khessie Jane Baluyot, 17, a Grade 11 student of Kapatagan National High School (KPNHS), registered 30.33 meters in her third attempt to clinch the secondary girls discus throw gold medal on the heels of winning the secondary girls shot put gold for Digos City Monday afternoon.
Baluyot, wiping tears away from her face, said, "Lipay kaayo ko kay tanang kahago nabayran ani. Para ni sa akong pamilya og sa among delegasyon (I am so happy that all my sacrifices paid off. This is for my family and our delegation)."
The double gold feat redeemed Baluyot from her two silver finishes in last year's Davraa edition.
"I already claimed the golds from the start since I am confident with my training and discipline," Baluyot, whose father delivers vegetables to Bankerohan Public Market in Davao City, added in the vernacular.
She hopes to win a medal at last in her fifth Palaro stint in April.
Meanwhile, her teammate 15-year-old Charmin Miano also captured her second gold yesterday, amid hurting legs, as she leaped to a distance of 11.31 meters on her fifth attempt in the secondary girls triple jump. She prevailed over Tagum City's Hazel Arellano (10.92m) and Erminda Albino of Davao City (10.38m).
"I did not jump in the final round anymore as I was already injured and I have a relay in the afternoon," Miano, who annexed the secondary girls long jump gold Monday, said in the vernacular.
She hurt her legs during their in-house training while in Digos City.
She next targets a Palaro gold having failed to even make it to the top eight last year in Ilocos Sur. In Davraa 2018, she accounted for a gold in high jump and 100m hurdles.
Davao City's very own Desiree Anne Alaba, who bagged the elementary girls long jump on the first day of competition, also clinched her second gold after topping the elementary girls triple jump with her 10m showing. She bested Davao Occidental's Juana Tigaldao (8.90m) and fellow Dabawenya Evana Maxine Mendez (8.77m).
Andrea de Guia (secondary girls 3,000m) and Norman Carl Luardo (secondary boys 800m) also copped golds for Davao City.