Discus thrower Trangia bags first gold, swimmer Della sets first meet record in Batang Pinoy Nationals

PUERTO PRINCESA - Sensational Masbate discus thrower Courtney Jewel Trangia captured the first gold medal while San Fernando, La Union swimmer Anton Paulo Dominick Della set the first meet record as the Batang Pinoy National Championships got off to a rousing start here on Sunday.

Sustaining her winning streak since bagging the mint in the Philippine Athletics Championships at the Philsports track oval in Pasig City last April, Trangia, 17, ruled her pet event with a heave of 38.30 meters in the girls division at the Ramon V. Mitra Jr. Sports Complex in retaining her crown for the the third straight time in meet organized by the Philippine Sports Commission.

The lanky Della, 17, banked on strong finish in securing the gold in the boys 16 to 17-year-old boys 200-meter individual medley in clocking two minutes and 15.58 seconds, sinking the previous mark of 2:16..66 of Lucena's Peter Cyrus Dean set last year in the previous edition at the Teofilo Yldefonso pool in Manila.

Together, Trangia and Della were the early standouts in the youth sportsfest supported by the Puerto Princesa City government led by Mayor Lucilo Bayron, Pocari Sweat and Summit Mineral Water.

"Siyempre masayang-masaya po ako at ako ang nakuha ng first gold medal sa Batang Pinoy National Championship," said the stocky Masbate Sports Academy Grade 11 student.

"Courtney's strong suit is really her power and strenght and is quite teachable who follows the training instructions to the letter. She is able to juggle her academics and athletics well," noted coach and MSA school adviser Jeric Cabug.

MSA head Rufino Arellano disclosed that Trangia was one of two MSA gold medalists at the Asean School Games held last June in Da Nang, Vietnam, the other being javelin thrower Ana Bhianca Espenilla, who was scheduled to compete late in the afternoon.

Della said that he was surprised by the victory but believed that he could have lowered his time in the event.

"I really wanted to swim faster because I know what I am capable of," said the swimmer, who won five silver medals in the last Palarong Pambansa held in Cebu City last July.

"Just like basketball star Kobe Bryant said, 'the job is not yet don,' and I intend to win golds and break record in my home region," said Della of the next Palaro that will be held principally in Laoag, Ilocos Norte in 2025.

Tarlac's Rich Justin Torres won the other gold medal in athletics early Sunday morning in the boys javelin throw with a heave of 12.16 meters.

Bangkok-based Arveen Naeem Taguinota II, who won seven mints in the 2024 edition of the BP Nationals in Manila and carrying the colors of Pasig, topped the boys 12-13-year-old 200-meter IM event in 2:22.02 while Taguig's Ashton Clyde Jose was victorious in the boys 14-15-year-old class (2:14.08).

In the girls 200-meter IM, Malabon's Sophia Rose Garra was tops in the 12-13-year-old division (2:31.82), San Fernando, La Union' Kyla Louise Bulaga won in the 14-15-year-old class (2:33.50) and Quezon City's Liaa Margarethe Amoguis in the 16-17-year-old category (2:33.25).

Host Puerto Princesa also copped its first gold courtesy of swimmer Zachary Joseph Tovera, who topped the 14-15-year-old boys 50-meter backstroke in 29.95 seconds.

In chess, it was Oscar Cantela and Christan Gian Karlo Arca who led the early gold winners by topping the rapid event for boys 16-17-year-old old and 15-year-old divisions, respectively.

Masbate discus thrower Courtney Jewel Trangia (left photo) shows winning form in capturing the first gold while Taguig's Ashton Clyde Jose pumps his fist after ruling the boys 14-15-year-old boys 200-meter IM event in the Batang Pinoy National Championships held yesterday at the Ramon V. Mitra Jr. Sports Complex im Puerto Princesa Palawan.