This is the next set of results I have available. The 1978 Palarong Pamabansa was held in Cagayan De Oro.
Back in these times the Palarong Pambansa actually served as a sort of National Games with just two age grades senior and junior (supposed to be under 20). There was no high school and elementary grade. A lot of the time athletes competing in the junior division where actually ‘over-aged’ as no birth certificate checking system was in place.
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Mens
Mens 1500m was won by 21 year old Nestor Trampe in 4:09.0, Trampe four years later went on to set the Phil Record in the 1500m of 3.49.96 a record which stood for eleven years. Wilson Elefante was second (4:09.8) later had a career best of 3:51.43.
The 5k was won by Arthur Alimbuyao in 15:07.4 (carrer best 14:49.92), second was Rosario Sarmiento 15:15.0. Alimbuyao also won the 10k in a slow time of 34:29.1 however it was good enough to establish a new meet record (career best was 31:07.4).
Teodoro Dela Santa (NMRAA) won the 100m in a sluggish 10.9s. Ruben Moreno who finished third in 11.0s, actually had a personal best of 10.6s from 1974.
In 400 Hurdles Angelito Aguilar (54.6) beat future legend Renato Unso (55.2). Unso won the 110 Hurdles in 15.5 (later 14.76et), Arnel Lobos is 4th in 15.9. Unso also won the Triple Jump in 14.22m.
Bicol’s Santos Magno Jr. won the 400m (50.3) held a PB of 48.73 from 1974 but getting on a bit by this stage. Aguilar of WVIRAA was second in the same time of 50.3. Ernseto Lace (typo actually Honesto) was last in 51.8. Larce would later become a famous member of the Bicol Express 4x400m relay team which set the still standing national record in the 4×400 back in 1985 and improved his 400 PB to 48.01 four years later. Oddly enough Bicol won the 4×400 in 3:27.4 with Larce and Magno in this original incarnation. Magno would later enjoy a successful career as a coach of several provincial athletes who later made it to the national team.
RTU current coach Elmer Reyes won the High Jump in 1.89m which was a meet record at this meet. Prior to this in 1974 Reyes had leapt 2.02m which was his career best in Singapore.
26 Year old Susano Ereng threw the shotput 12.64m, three years later he threw 15.20m which stood as the Philippine Record for 12 years. Manuel De Oro finished second in the Javelin. Future Hammer record holder Agustin ‘Danilo’ Jarina threw 40.24m to win the discus from Ereng.
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Womens
Lucila Salao-Tolentino won the 100 Hurdles in 15.2 (best was 14.3 back in 1972 as a junior). Just holding off Nanette Lusterio (15.3). Lusterio won the Long Jump in 5.09m.
The 100m was very much a race of veterans this year. The then 29 year old Lorena Morcilla who represented the old guard of sprinters who preceded De Vega Mercado won the 100m (12.4). Morcilla was a finalist in the 200m at Asian Games and was active into her 30s setting her best 100m time of 12.11et in 1980. Another veteran Carmen Torres who at this stage was already 30 but ran until her mid 30s was second in (12.6), Lilibeth Galvez who had a PB of 11.9 from 1972 was third in 12.7. 24 year old Gloria Acedo was fourth in 12.8 (best time was 12.0 the following year). Tolentino finished fifth in 13.0. Auxellador Sacro finished last (relative of the Unso’s?)
In a closely fought 200m Galvez won in 26.0 from Torres 26.1 (career best was 24.8), and Morcilla 26.2 (24.5 the next year). Torres won the 400m in 58.9 from Galvez 59.8 (Torres career bests of 58.3/58.51 were done at the sea games the year before).
Consuela Lacusong won the Shotput in 12.06m. In 1975 Lacusong had broken the 5 year old record of Josephine Dela Vina with a 13.92m shot which still stands as the national record. She beat Terresita Toorabala at this meet 10.79m (who had a best of 11.97m in 1975). Laucsong also won the discus in 39.39m (best 41.75m 1975).
The Javelin was won by Erlindia Lavandia 42.95m who won four sea games title in this event 1977,1979,1981 and 1985.
Erlindia Lavandia
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Boys
Future national junior record holder Julio Bayaban had major improvements over the next 2 years. The 17 year old won the 200m in 23.1. Danilo Yarte (later 21.8) on this occassion finished last in the final in 24.8. Bayaban took the double with 11.1 in the 100m.
In the Hurdles future ex-national coach Alex Ligtas and former gun starter Danilo Arpon where both in the boys hurdle finals. Ligtas also finished third in the high jump.
In the 1500m and 3ks future national coach Mario Castro finished last in both these events.
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Girls
18 year old Agrifina Dela Cruz won the 100 Hurdles in 16.5. She later went on to collect a hat rick of sea games titles in 1983, 1985 and 1987. Salve Cambonga clocked a time faster than the winner of the seniors with 12.2, just edging Suzette Gegaraya 12.3. Cambonga also won the 200m.
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1978 palarong pambansa track only results
Related articles
- 1988 Palarong Pambansa (pinoyathletics.com)
