LINGAYEN — Western Visayas took the lead in the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) national games from erstwhile leader Southern Tagalog, accumulating 18 golds, 23 silvers and 13 golds after three days of competition.

Southern Tagalog was relegated to second place in the temporary medal standing with 16 golds, eight silvers and 10 bronzes with its lone victory on Wednesday in the men’s 400-meter dash.

But the biggest surprise of them all at the Narciso Ramos Sports Center here was host Ilocos region when it garnered 15 golds, nine silvers and two bronzes to place itself in contention for the lead.

Western Visayas lorded on Wednesday in three events, among them in the 4 x 400-meter relay for men, to take the lead from rival Southern Tagalog which managed to earn only one gold.

The other gold medalists from Western Visayas were Celjoy Papa who snatched the gold in 400-meter dash for women with a time of 01:00.3 minute while Harold Juarez heaved the discuss in 33.52 meters.

Papa was trailed by Ilocos Region’s Russel Camino of the University of Luzon in Dagupan City who took the silver in 01:00.06 with another Region I athlete Liza Casaña taking the bronze in 01:02.l.

Southern Tagalog added another gold today with the victory of Melchor Ayon-Ayon in the 400-meter dash with a time of 51.1 minutes.

He was followed closely by Ilocos Region’s Romy de Guzman of the University of Luzon in 51.3 with Ricky Cordero of Southern Mindanao settling for the bronze at 51.4 minutes.

The day belonged to the host Ilocos region when it ruled in six events, among them the 4 x 100-meter relay for men, the classical relay for men and the classical relay for women.

So awesome was the sudden splurge of host Region 1.

”We did not expect this performance. It was more than double the gold medal harvest of Ilocos in the 2005 edition of the PRISAA national games in Zamboanga City,” PRISAA National President Gonzalo Duque, also PRISAA regional president.

Seato Gonimil, an official of the host delegation, said that in last year’s edition of the PRISAA national games, Ilocos earned only six golds for a six place finish.

“We are happy if we could again place sixth,” Gonimil said.

The foursome of de Guzman, Aldrin Sendico of the Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation, Gaby Buenaflor of UL and Bryan Aguinde, also of VUMF, took the golds in the 4 x 100 meter relay and repeated it in classical relay.

De Guzman also snatched the gold in 800-meter run for men aside from his silver in the 400-meter dash.

Rochelle Corpuz, an 18-year-old nursing student of VMUF, combined with Analyn Molano, Liza Casaña and Ruseel Camero, all of UL, to rule in the classical relay for women with a time of 2:23.9 minutes.

Corpuz made it again in long jump when she registered 5.32 meters, then came back and also took the gold in triple jump for women.

Nancy Navalta, many-years gold medallist in the Palarong Pambansa and now coach of Ilocos region’s women runners, said the rigorous training program she had for her team is now slowly paying off. (PNA)