
Fil-Iranian swimmer Mojdeh makes waves

BAGUIO CITY -- Mikaela Jasmine Mojdeh of Paranaque and Roz Ciaralene Encarnacion of Laguna made waves in swimming, Fil-Italian MarcVan Louie Baluyut of Tarlac stamped his class in cycling and Marinel Abuan of Zambales ruled the high jump in Day 2 of the Batang Pinoy National Championship in various venues here Tuesday.
Mojdeh, dubbed as the “Wonder Girl” of Philippine swimming, swam her way to two more gold medals in 400m individual medley with a time of 5:37.36 and 50m butterfly with a time of 39.57 at the Baguio National High School pool.
The 13-year-old Fil-Iranian, who was honored during the PSC Siklab Awards last July for her six-gold medal romp in the Palarong Pambansa, took her first gold in the 100m butterfly last Monday.
Mojdeh, however, failed to win a fourth gold when she lost to Encarnacion in the 200M breaststroke.
Encarnacion edged Mojdeh, clocking 2:55.02 against the latter’s 2:59.68.
Encarnacion, the 13-year-old find from Alaminos, also ruled the 200m IM and 50m breaststroke to match Modjeh’s three-gold medal haul in the week-long competition being held in this city still recovering from the devastating effects of super typhoon Ompong.
Also winning three swimming golds were Althea Baluyot of Quezon City ( 50m freestyle, 100m free and 100m fly); Roshanne Biglete of Laguna (200m backstroke, 50m free and 100m free); and Jules Mirandilla of Lucena (50m butterfly).
Baluyut, the Rome, Italy-based campaigner who is hoping to join the national pool, took the control early in the five-lap, 2.2 kilometer race passing through the famous Burnham Park and bagged the gold in the 14-15 category criterium race.
The 15-year-old son of former national cyclist Villamor Baluyut crossed the finish line ahead of Joseph Quirino of Malaybalay and Justin Valerio of Pangasinan.
“Gustong-gusto po talaga na maka-karera dito sa Pilipinas at makasama sa national team,” said the elder Villamor, a native San Jose, Tarlac and teammate of Victor Espiritu from 1998-2004.
Cebu riders Nicole del Rosario, Moira Erediano and Catherine Yu finished 1-2-3 in the girls category.
In athletics, Abuan posted 1.55m to secure the girls high jump gold.
Rysiamie Hurano of Bohol topped the girls long jump (5.45m), and Laurize Wangkay of Laguna triumphed in the 2000m walk (11:29).
Over at the Benguet State University, Jeremiah Adrian Basadre of Koronadal and Francine Nabor of La Union took the golds in the bowman boys and girls divisions.
Joining them in the podium are Christian Gabiosa of Koronadal (yeoman boys) and Carleen Sophia Flores of La Union (yeoman girls).
Elsewhere:
-- Host Baguio City and Pangasinan shared the limelight with three gold medals in taekwondo at the University of Baguio gym.
Sisters Lei and Rain Ramon bagged the golds in the cadet female featherweight and lightweight divisions while the trio of Gabriel Ivan Inacay, Zeik Jhay Ceniza and Zeick Andrei Tacay shone in the poomsae cadet team event.
Pangasinan struck for golds through Ericka Claudette Edrosolan (cadet middle class), James Oranza (junior individual male poomsae) and Oranza and Kristine Roxas (junior pair). -- Zamboanga, home province of 2018 Asian Games gold medalist and 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, dominated weightlifting action at the YMCA gym.
Winning four golds for Zamboanga are Mango Prince David Tarro. who lifted a total of 86 kilos to win the boys 34kg class; Albert Delos Santos, who posted 107 total to win the boys 38kgs; Christian Rodriguez, who submitted 115 total to rule the over 38kgs; and Jeaneth Hipolito, who had 82 to take the girls 36kg.
Sharing the top honors with Zamboanga are Cebu City and Tagbilaran, which took home two wightlifting gold medals.