Nineteen gold medals are up for grabs on Day 1 of the athletics competition in the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Games, which opens Monday at Cagayan Sports Complex here.

Scheduled in the morning are the men’s 5,000m, women’s shot put, men’s long jump, boys’ 5,000m, girls’ shot put and boys’ long jump

The men’s shot put, women’s long jump, women’s 100m hurdles, girls’ 100m hurdles, men’s 110m hurdles, boys’ 110m hurdles, girls’ 400m, boys’ 400m, women’s 400m, men’s 400m, boys’ shot put, girls’ long jump and women’s 5,000m will be in the afternoon.

Other events scheduled at the complex are 3×3 basketball, softball, boys’ and men’s tennis, and swimming.

Competitions in archery, badminton, baseball, basketball (5×5), beach volleyball, boxing, chess, dancesport, football, gymnastics, karatedo, sepak takraw, table tennis, taekwondo, lawn tennis, indoor volleyball and weightlifting will also start on Monday.

Highlighting Saturday’s opening ceremony was the torch relay led by two-time Olympic long jumper and Cagayan native Lerma Elmira Bulauitan-Gabito.

PRISAA national president Ester Susan Perez-Mari of Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) lit the ceremonial urn.

Over 8,000 athletes, coaches, and officials from 17 regions are participating in this year’s Games, which promotes inclusive grassroots sports development and serves as a stepping stone to the Olympics. (PNA)