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For the second year in a row, Eastern Visayas track and field champion Chrishia Mae Tajarros wins the first gold medal of the Palarong Pambansa as she defends her throne in the secondary girls’ 3,000m race.
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Philippines – Chrishia Mae Tajarros no longer shed tears, but she remained strong.
For the second year in a row, the Eastern Visayas track and field star earned the distinction of becoming the first Palarong Pambansa gold medalist after defending her throne in the high school girls’ 3,000 meters at the Datu Lipus Makapandong Democrito O. Plaza Stadium in Prosperidad on Monday, May 25.
Tajarros, an incoming Grade 10 student at Tanauan National High School and a product of the Leyte Sports Academy, led from start to finish and posted a time of 10 minutes and 4.76 seconds as he replicated his success in the 2025 edition in Ilocos Norte, where he also emerged as the first Palaro champion.
“I’m sure since I trained for almost a whole year because Palaro only comes once in a lifetime,” said Tajarros.
Tajarros bested his 2025 time of 10:18.6 by nearly 14 seconds as he came close to breaking Palaro’s record of 10:03.4 set by Mea Gey Ninura of Davao Region in 2016.
Eastern Visayas completed the one-two coup, with Angel Lumacang finishing a distant second with a time of 10:16.24 followed by Charlen Cos of Davao (10:17.20) in third place.
Tajarros’ life has changed since his thrilling victory in 2025, which made him run an emotional split.
She now represents the Philippines internationally, winning the girls’ 3,000m silver medal at the ASEAN School Games in Brunei in November.
His next goal is to reach a bigger stage in sports.
“I’m one hundred percent (hungry). My dream is to make the Olympics while I’m still young,” said 14-year-old Tajarros. – Rappler.com
