SHARKS BITE FIRST IN ALL-ISLAND TRACK

By Jay Leon Guerrero

The Sanchez Sharks boys won two gold in Day 1 of the IIAAG Track and Field All-Island Meet at the JFK track in upper Tumon. Two events (high jump and discus) were played out on Thursday evening.

Adrian Nacino threw a PR (personal record) of 39.57 meters to win gold in the discus for the Sharks. Nacino’s teammate, Anthony Castro, later won the high jump clearing a PR height of 5’10” to complete the sweep.

Nacino edged out Southern High’s Ryan Teologo who managed to throw 35.58 meter for silver.

Nacino and Teologo were battling all season for the title with each taking turns winning at meets leading up to the all-island.

“I accomplished my goal of winning gold. Ryan and I are ‘cool’ with each other outside the ring, but when we compete against each other it’s a different story,” said Nacino of their friendly rivalry. Nacino’s teammate, Henry Lizama, took bronze with a distance if 31.70 meters.

In the girls discus event, an inspired Amanda Cruz won gold for the Okkodo Bulldogs with a distance of 25.79 meters.

“My dad just arrived here after visiting my grandma from the hospital. She’s not feeling too well so I dedicated my performance and gold medal to her,” said Cruz.

Cruz, who finished with a bronze last season, threw her PR edging out GW’s Elizabeth Flisco (24.88 meters) and Southern’s Jaena Taitague (24.04 meters).

Jailynn Jones got the Guam High Panthers off to good start winning Gold in the Girl’s High Jump. Jones jumped 4’6″ to win gold over GW’s Raquel Walker who jumped 4’4″. Sanchez Shark Adhara Balansay took bronze in the event.

“It feels good to give the team 10 points for a gold. Hopefully tomorrow goes well and we keep getting points to win the overall team championship,” said Jones. Jones qualified for three other events and will race in 800m, 400m and the 4X400m relay in day 2 of the all-island event.

The Panthers look to stop the reign of the two-time girls defending champion JFK Islanders. With both teams strong in particular events, the girls title will be a close finish.

Castro shocks the field by winning gold

Castro surprised the field and completed the gold sweep for the Sharks. The crowd came to see if top seeds Ethan Alegre (GW) or Nelson Ortega (Southern) were going to break the 6-foot barrier.

With wet conditions, both top-seeded jumpers were unable to getting close to their PR’s. That paved the way for last year’s silver medallist Castro to shine. Castro came up clutch and cleared 5’10” on his last attempt to clinch gold.

Aaron Castro, Anthony’s twin brother, also competed in the event but his role later changed into the cheerleader after he failed to clear 5’6″. “I’m happy he got this far, it’s his first time winning a Gold medal in high school,” said Aaron Castro.

“It feels good to win gold, last year I came up short and won silver in this event. I just started practicing really hard for the last week and a half in this event. We were hoping just to enter and win a bronze medal, but winning a gold was a big surprise,” said Anthony Castro.

Alegre won silver, Daelin Alviz from JFK took home the bronze.

All-island action resumes Friday night at the Okkodo track at 4pm.

PHOTO GALLERY:

(photo by Dan Paran)

(photo by Dan Paran)

(photo by Dan Paran)

(photo by Dan Paran)

(photo by Dan Paran)

(photo by Dan Paran)

(photo by Dan Paran)

(photo by Dan Paran)

(photo by Dan Paran)

(photo by Dan Paran)

(photo by Dan Paran)