LUNA, APAYAO — Baguio City immediately flexed its muscle as it pulls away right at the start of the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association held in different venues here.
The defending champion has no intention of conceding the over – all title as it romped off with 69 gold medals with 45 silvers and 13 bronze.
Baguio E-Lions once again banked on swimming that captured 33 gold medals while the taekwondo (poomsae) chipped in 18 golds, as archery also sweep the 10 gold medals at stake in the competition.
Apayao Eagles and Benguet Stingers meanwhile are locked in for the second and third spot.
The host province has won 10 golds as of 4:00 pm in the over-all standings while earning 10 silver and 21 bronze medals.
Benguet is just one gold shy of the host province with nine golds, 23 silvers and 13 bronze medals.
Muay Thai events delivered five gold and for silver medals for Benguet with Izhar Bolcio snaring the gold in the Wai Kru boys 9-10 years category, Jewel Ruth Ablos winning the Wai Kru girls 9-10 years old category and Dare Malecdan Jr. bagging the third gold medal in the Wai Kru boys 11-12 years age bracket.
Pencak Silt added three gold medals for Benguet with Shirween Cuaban topping the high school boys Artistic Bibas category while Caille Chesny Belino ruled the distaff side.
The duo of Shaniah Mangapac and Jennefer Landisan also reigned supreme in the Artistic Ganda.
Abra is currently running at fourth with a 4-9-10 medal haul with Kalinga earning 4 golds, six silvers and 19 bronze.
Ifugao, as of this writing has one gold and five bronze while Mt. Province took a silver and five bronze medals with Tabuk City having seven bronze medals.
Organizers and management of the CARAA continue to assure parents of all athletes’ health and safety as games will be suspended during the hottest time of the day.
“We brought the athletes here healthy; we will make sure that we bring them back home to their families safe and healthy, ” said Dr. Estella Carino, regional director of the Department of Education (DepEd)-CAR announced during the solidarity meeting on Monday attended by event officials.
CARAA is a grassroots sports program of DepEd with participants from students from the elementary to high schools, aside from Apayao and Baguio, namely Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Tabuk City. Roderick Osis
