Honor student athlete shatters 100m dash Palaro record

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Clinching the gold was the game plan. Breaking the record was already beyond overwhelming for SOCCSKSARGEN trackster Feberoy Kasi.

The runner from South Cotabato shattered Jomar Udtohan’s record of 10.8 seconds in the secondary boys 100m dash in 2014, and replaced it with a close 10.74 seconds.  

“Hindi ako makapaniwala kasi yung target ko, maka gold lang. Pero pagkalabas ng results, na-break ko pa pala yung record,” he said.

(I cannot believe that I broke the record because my only target was the gold. But when the results came out, it turned out that I broke the record.)

“Na shock ako tapos parang hindi ako makapag salita,” Kasi added.

(I was shocked and I couldn’t speak.)

He is currently a Grade 10 student at T’boli National High School and a consistent student achiever in the past 3 years. He has trained for 40 straight days in preparation for this year’s Palarong Pambansa, while juggling his academic load. He can’t be happy enough to see his hard work pay off.

Sports as inspiration to stay in school

Kasi is noticeably older than his other batch mates in his grade level. He opened up the reason behind it to Rappler and shared that he stopped studying in the third grade when his parents separated. He never thought he’d still be interested in school until he discovered track and field.

“Naadik na ako sa sports. Araw-araw ako pumapasok,” he narrated.

(I got addicted to sports. I started going to school everyday.)

He didn’t only go back to school but even started performing well. Kasi has been the first honor in their class for three years now- something that is not easy to do as a student athlete.

“Nagt-train po ako bago tsaka pagkatapos pumasok sa school.”

(I train before and after school hours.)

For family and education

Kasi’s father is a rice farmer while his mother stays at home. The cash incentives he’ll win this year is admittedly a huge help for his family. Moreover, he dreams to go to one of the biggest universities in Manila to pursue an education degree and start coaching as well.

“Syempre pamilya ko tsaka para makakuha ako ng scholarship sa college para makapagtapos ako ng college,” he said on why he runs.

(I run for my family and for me to get a scholarship in college so I can finish my education.)

The 18-year-old runner is actually a step closer towards fulfilling his dream as De La Salle University already offered him a college scholarship. Kasi said that he’ll fly to Manila within this month to take the entrance exam at DLSU.

This record breaker’s journey in college sports is yet to start. But he knows as early as now that nothing will come easy. In fact, he acknowledges that focus, determination, and faith in God will be his ticket to success. – Rappler.com

More 2016 Palarong Pambansa stories:

• Palaro swimming coach dedicates all to late son
• Zamboanga del Sur Palaro athlete banks on arnis to reach college
• Calabarzon’s Samuel Abu Hijleh has the makings of a future star
• Palaro Bicolano brothers play basketball for OFW mom and diabetic dad
• Davao gold medalist charms Palaro crowd in 2000-m walk

RECAPS AND MEDAL TALLIES: 

• NCR wins 12th straight overall Palarong Pambansa crown
• 8 records fall at Palaro 2016
• NCR cops secondary boys football title in heated Palaro final
• NCR trounces Calabarzon for back-to-back secondary girls volleyball title
• Calabarzon defeats Central Luzon to win Palaro secondary basketball title
• Janel Maraguinot, sis of Ateneo’s Jhoana, is Palaro Best Setter
• Negros Island earns bronze in secondary girls volleyball
• Central Visayas sweeps NCR to retain Palaro badminton doubles title
• Mimaropa bags gold in Palaro elementary boys double takraw

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