LINGAYEN --- Region VI claimed four more golds, 10 silvers and five bronzes yesterday to post a 16-18-14 final medal-haul for third place at the end of the National Private Schools and Athletics Association Games athletics hostilities at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center Oval here.

Rambel Martinez, a standout from the University of St. La Salle, opened Western Visayas' campaign in the final day yesterday with a victory in the men's pole vault after registering a 3.30-meter leap to defeat Southern Mindanao bet Alvin Sahayon (3.10-m) and teammate Raffy Serrano (2.90-m).

Host Northern Luzon (Ilocos), mentored by controversial athlete Nancy Navalta, ruled the athletics hostilities with a 24-26-4 medal count, edging Southern Mindanao that tallied a 23-16-24 haul. Western Institute of Technology student Maylen Marquilina registered a 2-m effort in the women's pole vault to give Region VI another gold, while Jenny Rose Traigo, also of Western Visayas, and Hyde Nacua of

Southern Mindanao finished second and third, respectively, with efforts of 1.8-m and 1.7-m.

Region VI bet Jennilyn Progio booked a one minute and 7.8 seconds clocking in the women's 400-m hurdles for the gold, beating Lisa Casaña of Northern Luzon (1:08.10) and Calabarzon's Melanie Magbanua (1:10.50).

Hanny Jean Delfin gave Western Visayas its last gold in the athletics competitions yesterday when she ruled the women's 10,000-m run in 41:09.10, winning against Cecile Topia of Western Mindanao (41:50.90) and Christy Sevilleno of Central Visayas (42:33.50).

Cecil Joy Papa, who was a member of the silver winning women's 4x800-m and 4x200-m relay squads yesterday, spearheaded Region VI's campaign after bringing home four golds.

Joining Papa in the 4x800-m squad were Irene Apuhin, Marigen Campos and Delfin, while Cherry Batadlan, Jonalyn Pula of West Negros College, Papa and Progio settled for the silver in the 4x200-m (1:50.60) behind the bets from Northern Luzon (1:49.80).

Western Visayas standout John Grace Felitro finished runner-up in the women's javelin throw with a 34.31-m heave behind Sharon Ruleda of Southern Mindanao (35.73-m). Claudia Cagang (32.40-m) of Central Visayas wound up third.

The Region VI men's 4x200-m team of Joannou Fegarido, Joseph Gula, Neslee Aguirre and Marvin Dave Villar timed in at 1:34.40 for four bronze medals. Southern Mindanao and Norhtern Luzon finished first and second, respectively, with clockings of 1:32.10 and 1:3.60.*CIT

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