Negrense Long Jumper Bags Gold in 2018 ASEAN Schools Games

KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 — Bacolod City’s pride, long jumper Trexie dela Torre, earned the Philippines its second gold medal in the 2018 ASEAN Schools Games (ASG).

Dela Torre ruled the girls’ event at the Mini Stadium in Bukit Jalil on July 22 with a new personal-best of 5.84 meters to steal the top spot from Malaysia’s Mahira Hanis Binti Ishak (5.83 m) and Vietnam’s Hoang Thanh Giang (5.83 m), who were relegated to silver and bronze medal finish.

The Negrense eclipsed her personal record of 5.44 m which she set during the 2018 Palarong Pambansa last April in Ilocos Sur.

In an interview after awarding ceremony on Sunday morning, the 16-year-old long jumper said she has fulfilled her mission in her very first ASG stint.

“Bago po ‘yung turn ko, nagdasal po ako na sana maganda ‘yung kalalabasan. Ngayon po ini-enjoy ko ‘yung panalo and ang experience ko dito,” the Grade 11 student of Romanito P. Maravilla National High School shared.

Adriana Arca, athletics girls coach, relayed that she was confident that Dela Torre would produce a medal for the Philippines: “She was prepared and ready for this competition.”

Right after the culmination of the Palaro meet, Dela Torre said she immediately went to training, knowing that she would represent the country three months later in the ASG.

“Iba-ibang training routine po ang ginagawa ko every day. Depende sa gusto ni Coach,” she added.

Dela Torre is a proven winner, having also won the gold medal in the long jump – girls’ category during the 2016 Batang Pinoy National Finals in Tagum City, Davao del Norte. She also represented the country in the recent 13th Southeast Asian Youth Athletics which was held last April in Bangkok, Thailand.

Meanwhile, high jumper Evangelene Caminong earlier gave the country its first gold when she conquered the event on July 21.

Over at the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UTM) Sports Complex in Shah Alam, the boys sepak takraw team brought home the bronze medals in the doubles category, also on July 21.

DepEd Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships, and School Sports Tonisito Umali expressed his admiration for the country’s delegation: “We are happy to know that our athletes are not only doing their best to bring home the coveted medals for our country, but are also enjoying this once-in-a lifetime experience.” (DOE)