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2023 is truly a breakthrough year for the lanky Leonard Grospe.
A member of the Philippine National Team, the 18-year-old native of Dilasag, Aurora, needed just one try to set a new National mark of 2.20 meters in the men’s high jump competition late Wednesday night in the 2023 Philippine National Games at the Philsports Track oval in Pasig City.
Grospe, competing out of Mapua University, broke the 18-year-old mark of 2.18 meters set by no less than his personal mentor – Asian Games veteran Sean Guevarra.
“I am very happy for Leonard since he was able to break my record. He was able to break the psychological barrier of 2.17 meters, which he had been clearing in practice. I always believed he had it in him to do 2:20,” said Guevarra, who set the old mark in April 2005 during the Patafa National Open.
“Records are meant to be broken. So, feeling fulfilled talaga that he (Grospe) broke it. This is my legacy (coaching) to the sport that has been very good to me,” he added.
Last February, on his first international campaign this year, Grospe set a new national high-jump record in indoor meet with a 2.14 meters performance in the 2023 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan.
He broke the old mark of 2.09 set by Tyler Ruiz in Naperville, United States in 2014. Unfortunately, he failed to land in the podium.
“Masayang-masaya ako sa naging performance ko this year. Matagal na naming goal ni coach Sean na ma-break yung record niya,” stressed Grospe, who catch the eyes of Guevarra during the 2019 Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association meet.
At the adjacent swimming pool, Perto Princesa native Quendy Fernandez completed her coronation as ‘Queen of the Pool’ winning her sixth gold medal as part of the women’s team also composed of Maglia Jave Dignadice, Pearl June Daganio and sister Cindy in the women’s over 4×50 meter freestyle relay.
“I did not expect this would happen, but I am happy to have given my city of Puerto Princesa tan honor,” said the UAAP Season 86 Swimming MVP and rookie of the year.
Sharing the limelight in the multi-sports event organized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and backed by Pagcor, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Chooks to Go and Pocari Sweat was national swimmer and Bulacan bet Miguel Barreto, winning his third gold medal by ruling the boys 18-over 400-meter freestyle in timed of 4:03.18.
“I am just happy that we have won three golds so far and hopefully add two more tomorrow,” said Barreto, who aims to add the 200-meter freestyle and 50-meter breaststroke to his collection.
Other gold medal winners on the penultimate day of the PNG included Santiago City’s Jalil Sephraim Taguinod in the boys 18 over-100-meter breaststroke (1:05.83), Tagbilaran City’s Angel Lynn Docabo in the girls 18-over breast (1;19.95), respectively.
Pasig’s Ryann Emmanuel Suarez and Mandaluyong’s JIndsy Azze Mogia Dassion were tops in the boys and girls 18-over 400-meter butterfly events with times of 2:14.44 and 2:30.64, respectively.
National athlete June Sergio Gobotia, who won the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase earlier, added his second mint with a victor in the men’s 5,000-meter run in 15:09.58 while female counterpart Joida Gagnao was tops on the distaff side of the same event in 17:20.61.
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