They did not see them coming.

Area VI, powered by athletes from Kabankalan, Cauayan, Hinoba-an, Ilog and Sipalay, stole the thunder from the traditional favorites yesterday as it wrested the elementary athletics crowns of the Palarong Panlalawigan in Bacolod City.

Spearheaded by triple-gold winner Richmar Villaluz of Cauayan, Area VI tallied 95 points to dethrone Area I in the boys' division. Area IV finished second with 65 points and NOPSSCEA came in third with 59 points.

The Area VI girls' squad, though, escaped by the skin of its teeth, pulling through in the 4x400m relay to raise its mark to 84 points and secure the crown over Area I, which finished with 83.

The twin victories ended years of frustration for Area VI, whose athletes hardly made a dent in recent provincial Palaro meets, managing scattered victories in jumping events.

Striking hard in the track events, Bacolod retained its secondary girls' title in runaway fashion and unseated Area IV in the boys' division to share the spotlight with Area VI at the close of the four-day competitions at the University of St. La Salle field.

The team champions earned 30 points each in the overall standings.

The high school division turned out to be a virtual playground of three athletes from Bacolod City National High School --- Mary Joy Caporas, Ana Marie Jagocoy and Rolando Uberas --- who ran away with three individual golds each.

In another title chase that went down the wire, Uberas sparked the 4x100 relay team to victory for 14 points yesterday as Bacolod registered 98 points to dethrone Area IV, whose athletes combined for 96 markers.

Compensating for Bacolod 's weakness in throwing events, Jagocoy, a senior, dominated the sprints, while Caporas, who won the 800m gold in the Palarong Pambansa in Koronadal last April, overwhelmed the opposition in the strength-sapping middle-distance races.

The 12-year-old Villaluz, a sixth grader at Inayawan Elementary School , ruled the long jump (5.10m), 100m (13.12 seconds) and triple jump (10.57).

Also fueling the runaway win was Christian Mark Del Rosario, who captured the gold in the 1500m (5:04.89) and 400m (1:04.21). Another double-gold winner in the division was Roed Bais of Sagay, who topped the 110m hurdles and the high jump.

Area VI girls' team won only three golds but its string of silver and bronze finishes, which are equivalent to 5 and 4 points, respectively, turned out to be a blessing in disguise as well.

Aubrey Edang leapt her way to the triple jump gold (8.86m), while Rica Macoco took top honors in the 1500m (5:31.49) and also captured another silver.

Erma Rose Gamao of Paitan Elementary School in Escalante earned the distinction as the top athlete in the category after victories in the 100m and 200m. Gamao also bagged a silver in a relay event.

Another double gold winner was Devy Isada of Innocencio Lucasan Elementary School in Bago City , who brought home the golds in discus throw (25.65m) and shotput (8.39m).

The 14-year-old Caporas completed a hat-trick with victories in the 800m (2:29.47) 1500m (5:18.21) and 3000m (11:27.06), while Jagocoy captured the gold in the 100m (12.93), 200m (26.59) and 400m (1:02.10).

Helping Bacolod 's cause was Precious Palacios, the 400m hurdles qinner in 1:12.83.

First runner-up Area I, which finished 49 points behind Bacolod, hardly offered a challenge with Felyn Dolloso snaring its only gold in triple jump.

NOPSSCEA, aided by Maika De Oro's discus throw victory and Jami Dawn Henares' three silvers, came third with 52.5 markers.

Despite its three-gold haul, Area III failed to break the top three due to its poor showing in the running events. The 47-point output was largely attributed to the golden performances of Jona Aloquina in javelin throw, Ruffa Madayag in long jump and Melody Filomeno in high jump.

Uberas starred in the secondary boys' division, winning the 100m (11.49), 200m (23.64) and 400m (53.54). He got the support he needed as Junil Dumaguit ruled the 400m hurdles (1:01.54) and Kevin Liboon captured the 3000m (10:09.90) and 5000m (17:06.78).

It was actually a three-horse race heading into yesterday's relay events as Area IV and Area I were also in contention for the title until Uberas and co. blazed their way to the relay golds.

Area IV drew gold medals from Alfie Dela Cruz in long jump (5.87m), Bon Daryl Lagunday in shotput (10.68m) and Zaldy Lopez in triple jump.

Area I, which finished just 8 points behind Bacolod with 90 points, put itself in third position after Gerald Mark Layumas topped the 110m hurdles, Dennis Empase scored a breakthrough win in discus throw, Dennis Magnifico topped javelin throw and Romeo Menosa took the pole vault gold.*CPT

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7 Negros athletes in team events win
Nopsscea, Area IV seize Palaro lead
Area IV, Bacolod rule athletics