ILOCOS NORTE – Old records fell and new champions emerged as Day 2 the 2025 Palarong Pambansa wrapped up in Ilocos Norte with National Capital Region (NCR) still leading the medal tally.
Several athletics bets broke previous records with Central Luzon’s Alfred Talplacido ruling the secondary boys’ 400m run after clocking in 48.10 seconds. He surpassed the previous meet record of 48.7 mark set by Jomar Udtohan in 2014.
Another athletics ace in Josh Gabriel Salcedo of Western Visayas-Antique also broke the record in secondary boys’ discus throw after posting 45.52m outing. His new output bested 42.86m-finish of Airex Gabriel Villanueva in 2023.
Jhul Ian Cañalita smashed a 27-year record in secondary boys’ 5000m race after clocking in 15 minutes and 16.31 seconds to end a long-standing record of Cresencio Cabal, who registered 15 minutes and 38.4 seconds almost three decades ago.
Cris Ivan Domingo of NCR posted 54.29 seconds in 400m dash to narrowly set a new record. The previous best was 54.30 seconds mounted by Sajipa Bassal in 1998.
In swimming, Titus Sia and Sophia Garra delivered gold medals for NCR in record-breaking fashion.
Sia cracked two old records in 200m freestyle and 100m backstroke, putting together times of 2:07.86 and 1:05.44, respectively, to win two of his three gold medals. He also bagged one title in 4×50 medley relay.
Garra also set a new record in 100m backstroke with her 1:07.61 finish.
Another swimmer in Reinielle Jan Miko Trinidad from STCAA posted 25.23 seconds in 50m butterfly to break a previous record of his fellow Region IV-A bet Albert Amaro II (25.25).
FJ Catherine Cruz registered 1:05.65 seconds in 100m backstroke to break Quendy Fernandez’ 1:06.35 output in 2023.
As of posting, NCR still in the lead with 27 gold medals, 16 silver, and eight bronze while CALABARZON has 17 gold, 23 silver, and eight bronze so far.
Region X is at third spot with 12 gold, 10 silver, and 13 bronze.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News