PNG first timer hauls Cebu City’s first medal in cycling

CEBU City bagged its first ever medal in the track cycling event of the POC-PSC Philippine National Games (PNG) when 13-year-old Ana Patricia ‘Icamax’ Maximo of Lahug won a surprise silver medal n the 500m Individual Time Trial (ITT) Women Juniors at the Amoranto Velodrome in Quezon City.

Maximo timed 49.52 secs., becoming the youngest ever medal winner in track cycling.

And she did it in her very first PNG, a nationwide competition for national elite athletes and those who aspire to be included in the national team.

“I did not expect I can win since this is my first try. When my dad told me I am racing for Cebu City I got scared. I thought it was just an ordinary race,” beamed the incoming grade 8 student of Sacred Heart School – Hijas de Jesus.

Using a special Ridley-Token-Santi racing rig provided by YKKBikes.com, Icamax missed a possible gold medal with less than one second against eventual winner Avegail Benosa of Bicol who clocked 48.73 secs. Mary Monton of NCR won bronze in 52.16 secs.

“I’m so happy I represented Cebu City well. I hope my classmates and friends will also try cycling. It’s really fun, you travel to other places and get to meet new friends,” shares Icamax.

The 500m ITT event requires cyclists to negotiate the 400m velodrome track in 1 1/2 laps. Icamax used the Token carbon wheels with Kenda tires to prevent the bike from slipping on the angled tracks.

Meanwhile, her coach Luis Miguel ‘Igimax’ Maximo of Ateneo de Manila University, finished fifth in the 1,000m ITT Men Juniors with a time of 1:26.02 despite the lack of training due to his summer classes.

Both junior cyclists, who will also be competing in the 3000m and 4000m Individual Pursuit, are supported by Ridley, Campagnolo, Token, FSA, Lazer, Santini, Kenda, Vision, Carnac, CycleOps, YKK and Chigo.

In chess, International Master (IM) elect Mari Joseph Turqueza of Quezon City shocked GM Richard Bitoon of Medellin, Cebu to tie World Cup bound GM Mark Paragua and IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia at the top after four rounds of chess competitions at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) main campus.

Turqueza defeated Bitoon after 36 moves of their Catalan Opening game and raised his total to 4.0 points, boosting his bid for a first-ever national open crown.

Paragua, meantime, toppled IM Barlo Nadera after 34 moves of French defense while Garcia nipped IM Richelieu Salcedo II after 23 moves of English Opening.

Fide Master Haridas Pascua upset 12-time national open champion and rapid gold medal winner GM Rogelio ‘Joey’Antonio Jr. after 36 moves of Queens Pawn game to share 3rd-4th spots with Cebuano Eden Diano who beat NM Giovanni Mejia after 37moves of Dutch defense. Both have 3.5 points. /pr with correspondent Marlon bernardino