No longer barefoot, 13-year-runner claims gold that eluded her final 12 months

When Chrisia Mae Tajarros first of all chased her Olympic dream final 12 months and overlooked her goal, she ran barefoot.

The 13-year-old Eastern Visayas middle-distance runner got here again to the Palarong Pambansa 2025 with a vengeance, operating to victory within the secondary ladies’ 3000-meter race for the primary gold medal of the Games—in at ease footwear besides.

The most effective factor that will have made her Monday much more highest was once if her barefoot-to-breakthrough tale got here with a file finishing.

“It was a dream to break the record, but coach said it’s fine and I should still be grateful,” Tajarros, the daughter of a fish supplier from Tanauan, Leyte, mentioned in Filipino after crossing the road in 10 mins and 18.6 seconds.

She broke down in tears after crossing the end at Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium in Laoag City, after bettering on her silver medal end in Cebu final 12 months.

Davao area’s Mea Gey Ninura nonetheless holds the usual within the match (10:03.4), which she set when she dominated the 2016 version of the Palaro.

So dominant was once Tarrajos some of the 28-strong box that her closest pursuer got here 30 seconds in the back of her. Caraga area’s Mary Mae Magbanua (10:48.4) completed 2nd, trailing right away after Tajarros burst out of the blocks. Nathalei Miguel of host Ilocos area completed 3rd in 10 mins and 50.4 seconds.

“I educated for a 12 months, all the ones sacrifices had been price it. I cried even throughout observe and I used that silver end final 12 months as

motivation to get the gold,” mentioned an emotional Tajarros, including that she just about didn’t make the qualification because of muscle ache throughout the regionals.

The dusky incoming Grade 9 from Tanauan National High School in Leyte has been operating after large goals since selecting up the game.

“I want to be in the Olympics someday and I’m willing to put in the work for me to get there,” mentioned Tajarros, a mainstay of the Leyte Sports Academy below trainer Damas Oledan.

Another Diaz shines

Tajarros started coaching with a couple of monitor footwear after Cebu final 12 months, however nonetheless ran barefoot throughout the Asean Schools Games in Da Nang, Vietnam, the place she completed fourth within the 3000m and 1500m.

“I trained her under intense heat up to 11 in the morning because we knew it was going to be extremely hot here,” mentioned Oledan, who comforted a sobbing Tajarros on the end line.

Meanwhile, any other Olympic hopeful flexed his muscle tissues, reasonably actually. And he carries a well-known title.

Matthew Diaz.

Matthew Diaz lifted 73 kilograms (kg) within the clutch and 93 kgs within the blank and jerk for a non-public highest 166 kgs to rule the lads’ 48-kg weightlifting contest.

Diaz is the nephew of Hidilyn Diaz Naranjo, the Olympic gold medalist who was once provide on the sidelines because the match director of the demonstration game.

“Winning this was entirely unexpected,” mentioned the 14-year-old Diaz, the reigning champion within the boys’ 43kg department of the Philippine Sports Commission Batang Pinoy Championships held final November in Puerto Princesa City.

“It was a relief that he got the gold. We were nervous while watching him make those lifts,” mentioned Diaz-Naranjo, who educated her nephew of their facility in Jala-Jala, Rizal.

Other occasions noticed Calabarzon’s Sam Garcia best the basic ladies discus throw (33.97 meters) and Bicol area’s Courtney Jewel Trangia rule the highschool ladies class with a 36.72m heave. INQ