DAVAO City's back-to-back long jump gold medalists Mark Anthony Caseñas and John Niel Taytayan, both youngest child in their respective families, would not want to settle for less as they also aim to sweep all golds in their two remaining events.
Six-foot-two Caseñas, a 17-year-old student of Calinan National High School, took advantage of his height to snatch the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet 2018 secondary boys long jump gold with a record of 6.62 meters to stage a huge comeback from a frustrating loss in last year's edition of the regional meet in Mati City.
"New record nako na sa long jump kay tong sa Mati puro ra ko fouls (That's my new best record in long jump since I only registered fouls in Mati)," said the son of Julius, a security guard, and Elaine, a housewife, said.
He also said that his hardship during training paid off. His daily routine includes running and drills, among others.
The new champion from Tugbok District added, "Giprepare jud nako akong sarili nga mudaug. Gusto pako nga makuha ang high jump og triple jump (I conditioned myself to win. I also want to win the golds in high jump and triple jump as well)."
He salvaged a silver medal in triple jump last year.
He said that training at the Olympic-sized University of Mindanao (UM), where the Davraa Meet 2018 athletics competition is being held, was a big factor to his win. He thanked his coach for motivating him and his family for their constant support.
A product of a broken family, Caseñas said he chose long jump over basketball as the latter is a team game. "Gusto ko sariling sikap lang, sariling hago (I want to work on my own and challenge myself)."
He also urged fellow athletes, saying, "Motivate yourself to be a winner."
Newbie delight
A first timer in the regional meet, 12-year-old fifth-grader Taytayan dedicated his gold to his mother Imelda and hopes he could give her more golds in the coming days.
The TV Fernandez Elementary School student Taytayan, who hails from
Barangay Indangan, said his mother inspires him.
"Malipayon ko. Mas tarungon pa nako sunod nga mga events nako para sa iyaha (I'm overjoyed. I will do my best to win the rest of my events for my mom)," he told Sun.Star Davao in separate interview.
He made 4.85 meters in his second and fifth jumps.
Taytayan, the youngest in the brood of six, only learned the ropes of the sport one year ago. Thus, clinching three golds in his Davraa Meet debut here would be a very ambitious feat.
"Andam na kaayo ko (I am very much ready)," he claimed, adding that it is his personal goal to reach six meters and that's what he will work on when he competes in the 2018 Palarong Pambansa in Vigan.
Action resumes
A total of 21 golds are at stake when the athletics competition resumes at 6 a.m. at UM track oval in Matina, Davao City.
Final events in the morning include elementary and secondary girls discus throw, elementary and secondary girls triple jump, elementary and secondary boys 800-meter run, elementary and secondary girls 800m, elementary boys and secondary boys 200m dash, elementary and secondary girls 200m and secondary boys 3,000m steeplechase.
By 3 p.m. today, finals in elementary and secondary boys 400m hurdles, elementary girls and secondary girls 400m hurdles, elementary boys and secondary boys triple jump, elementary boys and secondary boys 1,500m and elementary and secondary girls 1,500m will be featured.
Other track events were ongoing as of Monday.
