AGUSAN DEL SUR — Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region continued their dominant run in the 2026 Palarong Pambansa after their young athletes piled up more gold medals in athletics, swimming, and chess competitions, further strengthening their campaigns in the country’s premier scholastic sporting event.
Leading the charge for Western Visayas was Ilongga sprinter Trixia Anne Arellano, who blazed her way to the gold medal in the Elementary Girls 200-meter dash after overpowering the field from start to finish.
The Carles-native standout showed superior speed and composure as she surged ahead early and never relinquished control en route to another gold-medal finish for the region.
Arellano’s triumph was credited to the training program of Rey John delos Reyes and the mentorship of coaches Leone Tiosayco and Benedicto Prasas.
Western Visayas also struck gold in the field events after Rheannah Moreno of Carles Central School ruled the Elementary Girls Shot Put with a winning throw of 11.7 meters.
“We were confident that Rheannah could deliver a medal but we did not expect she will win gold,” coach Leone Tiosayco said.
Khent Joseph Belarmino added another gold medal in the Elementary Athletics Finals, while Neyo Sarabia contributed a silver medal in the Secondary Athletics Finals to further boost Region 6’s medal tally.
In chess, Faith Argenal kept Western Visayas in the medal race after securing a bronze medal in the Secondary Chess Finals.
Meanwhile, the Negros Island Region Visayan Vipers sustained their own strong showing at the Democrito O. Plaza Sports Complex behind standout performances in athletics and swimming.
Kristine Joy Bilbao delivered a gold medal in the Secondary Girls Shot Put after recording the longest throw in the competition, while Psalm Euxene Pampag chipped in a bronze medal in the Secondary Girls 400-meter run.
The Visayan Vipers also made waves in the pool after Sofia Ysabela Secuelan dominated the Elementary Girls 100-meter backstroke event.
The St. John’s Institute swimmer erased her previous seed time of 1:13.98 and clocked a personal-best 1:11.79 in the finals to clinch the gold medal.
Maxene Hayley Uy likewise contributed to the region’s swimming campaign after bagging a bronze medal in the Secondary Girls 100-meter backstroke finals.
The latest medal haul further intensified the momentum of both Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region as competitions continued in the annual national sporting showcase./PN
