Chrisia Mae Tajarros leaves the pack behind. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
When Chrisia Mae Tajarros initially chased her Olympic dream final 12 months and missed her goal, she ran barefoot.
The 13-year-old Japanese Visayas middle-distance runner got here again to the Palarong Pambansa 2025 with a vengeance, working to victory within the secondary ladies’ 3000-meter race for the primary gold medal of the Video games—in comfortable footwear besides.
The one factor that may have made her Monday much more good was if her barefoot-to-breakthrough story got here with a file ending.
“It was a dream to interrupt the file, however coach stated it’s advantageous and I ought to nonetheless be grateful,” Tajarros, the daughter of a fish vendor from Tanauan, Leyte, stated in Filipino after crossing the road in 10 minutes and 18.6 seconds.
She broke down in tears after crossing the end at Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium in Laoag Metropolis, after enhancing on her silver medal end in Cebu final 12 months.
Davao area’s Mea Gey Ninura nonetheless holds the usual within the occasion (10:03.4), which she set when she dominated the 2016 version of the Palaro.
So dominant was Tarrajos among the many 28-strong subject that her closest pursuer got here 30 seconds behind her. Caraga area’s Mary Mae Magbanua (10:48.4) completed second, trailing instantly after Tajarros burst out of the blocks. Nathalei Miguel of host Ilocos area completed third in 10 minutes and 50.4 seconds.
“I educated for a 12 months, all these sacrifices have been price it. I cried even throughout observe and I used that silver end final 12 months as
motivation to get the gold,” stated an emotional Tajarros, including that she practically didn’t make the qualification as a consequence of muscle ache throughout the regionals.
The dusky incoming Grade 9 from Tanauan Nationwide Excessive Faculty in Leyte has been working after large goals since selecting up the game.
“I wish to be within the Olympics sometime and I’m keen to place within the work for me to get there,” stated Tajarros, a mainstay of the Leyte Sports activities Academy underneath coach Damas Oledan.
One other Diaz shines
Tajarros started coaching with a pair of monitor footwear after Cebu final 12 months, however nonetheless ran barefoot throughout the Asean Colleges Video games in Da Nang, Vietnam, the place she completed fourth within the 3000m and 1500m.
“I educated her underneath intense warmth as much as 11 within the morning as a result of we knew it was going to be extraordinarily scorching right here,” stated Oledan, who comforted a sobbing Tajarros on the end line.
In the meantime, one other Olympic hopeful flexed his muscle tissue, fairly actually. And he carries a well-known identify.
Matthew Diaz.
Matthew Diaz lifted 73 kilograms (kg) within the snatch and 93 kgs within the clear and jerk for a private greatest 166 kgs to rule the boys’ 48-kg weightlifting contest.
Diaz is the nephew of Hidilyn Diaz Naranjo, the Olympic gold medalist who was current on the sidelines because the event director of the demonstration sport.
“Successful this was solely sudden,” stated the 14-year-old Diaz, the reigning champion within the boys’ 43kg division of the Philippine Sports activities Fee Batang Pinoy Championships held final November in Puerto Princesa Metropolis.
“It was a aid that he bought the gold. We have been nervous whereas watching him make these lifts,” stated Diaz-Naranjo, who educated her nephew of their facility in Jala-Jala, Rizal.
Different occasions noticed Calabarzon’s Sam Garcia high the elementary ladies discus throw (33.97 meters) and Bicol area’s Courtney Jewel Trangia rule the highschool ladies class with a 36.72m heave. INQ
