LAOAG CITY – National Capital Region’s Titus Rafael Sia came up with another stunning performance at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium swimming pool Thursday to secure his fifth gold medal in the 65th Palarong Pambansa.

The 12-year-old from San Juan City ruled the elementary boys’ 400-meter freestyle event with a new meet record of 4:31.39, eclipsing the 4:35.42 established by Davao Region’s Omar Dacera in the 2009 edition held in Tacloban City, Leyte.

Caraga Region’s Cosme Calejesan (4:41.36) and Francis Anunciado (4:54.25) settled for the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

Sia, an incoming Grade 7 student in Xavier School, also set new marks in the 200m and 100m backstroke, and claimed victory in the 400m freestyle and 4×50 medley relay with Reighlem Scziyo Salon, Mackenzie, Findlay Jake Mackenzie and Joshua Erik Chua.

Meanwhile, Sophia Rose Garra of De La Salle Araneta University in Malabon dominated the elementary girls division with five golds coming from the 200m Individual Medley and 100m backstroke (new meet records), 100m and 200m freestyle, and 4x50m medley relay with Adrianne Reese Tacuboy, Kaeley Vianna Cabalida and Ceanna Gabrielle Mitra.

In athletics, Central Luzon Region’s Lance Nicolas of Taal High School registered 3.80 meters in the secondary boys’ pole vault to prevail over NCR’s Francis Allen Sillar of University of Santo Tomas (3.60m) and Northern Mindanao’s Jay Clarabal of Looc National High School (3.30m) Nicolas’ teammate, Kae Ross Ferrer also triumphed in the elementary boys’ 1500m while the other winners were Cagayan Valley’s Angel Agapito (secondary girls’ high jump), Davao Region’s Mary Jane Pagayon (secondary girls’ 1500m) and Eastern Visayas Region’s Joyce Panganoron (elementary girls’ 1500m).

Over at the Bacarra National Cultural Center, NCR swept the mixed category in aero gymnastics courtesy of Mab Ysabelle Angela Esguerra and Anton Eliezer Dungog (secondary) and Antonette Amante and Jerico Catilogo (elementary).

Winners in the wushu competition at the Sarrat Civic Center were Davao Region’s Ivy Ledama (Group B secondary girls 48kg), Jacob Rey Agad (Group B secondary boys’ 48kg), Abrianna Jed Payao (Group B secondary girls’ 42kg) and Clarens Villacastin (Group A secondary boys’ 56kg).

The other gold medalists were Cordillera Administrative Region’s Aron Dulos (Group A secondary boys’ 52kg), Joelle Peñaflor (Group B secondary girls’ 45kg), Xiviel Bantali (Group B secondary boys’ 42kg); Soccsksargen Region’s King McJones Moreno (Group B secondary boys’ 45kg); Ilocos Region’s James Duag (Group A secondary boys’ 48kg).

As of 6:30 p.m., NCR has collected 77 golds, 52 silvers and 31 bronzes in the overall medal tally board of the annual event organized by the Department of Education.

Calabarzon Region is at No. 2 with 33 golds, 46 silvers and 41 bronzes while Western Visayas Region ranks third with 25 golds, 35 silvers and 30 bronzes.

Davao Region moved up to fourth place with 24 golds, 17 silvers and 28 bronzes, while Northern Mindanao Region slid to fifth with 21 golds, 17 silvers and 33 bronzes.

Central Visayas took the No. 6 spot with 20 golds, 18 silvers and 28 bronzes followed by Central Luzon (19-15-26), CAR (16-12-7), Caraga (15-12-25), Eastern Visayas Region (10-10-16), Soccsksargen (8-14-22), Ilocos Region (6-15-17), Bicol Region (6-4-22), Cagayan Valley Region (4-8-14), National Academy of Sports (4-2-5), Zamboanga Peninsula (2-11-12), Mimaropa Region (1-3-3) and BARMM (1-1-5). (PNA)