TARLAC CITY – The National Capital Region ended a two-day shutout in athletics with two gold medals Wednesday in the Palarong Pambansa.

Patrick Unso, son of former track star Renato, broke the meet record in the boys’ secondary 400-meter hurdles to give the Big City its first victory in the centerpiece event.

Unso clocked 54.1 seconds to best the previous mark of 55.7 seconds set by Jorge Pinanonang of Central Visayas in 2005.

Western Visayas’ Robert Francisco, whom Unso overtook in the last 200 meters, settled for the silver in 56.9 seconds followed by Cagayan Valley’s Alejandro Mendioro (57.4).

Unso now sets his sights on the 110-meter hurdles and the high jump.

John Robertson Madayag gave NCR its second gold in the 400m hurdles (elementary boys) in 1:04.47 seconds, beating Richard Roselim of Northern Mindanao(1:04.90) and Rey Rublon of Mimaropa (1:05.90).

Meanwhile, Alysa Marie Andrade of Western Visayas chalked up her second meet record in the elementary girls’ long jump.

A three-gold medalist in the regional meet held last March in Aklan, Andrade smashed the 10-year-old record of Angeline Cabreros which stood at 4.99 meters.

WV coach Alan Urate was elated with Andrade’s performance.

“Masayang-masaya ako dahil nanalo siya at record pa.Wala na akong mahihingi pa. nagawa niya yung dapat gawin,” said Urate.

A fifth record in athletics fell by the wayside when Central Visayas’ Gia Bucag topped the girls’ elementary javelin throw in 40.63 meters.

The previous standard was held by Elena Camiring of Western Visayas (39.63) two years ago.

Four meet records have so far been broken in athletics.

Calabarzon cornered two gold medals courtesy of Gina Umali in the girls’ secondary 400 meters (1:05.7) and Rocena Chua in the girls elementary 400m hurdles (1:11.2).

Following its 10-gold medal romp in swimming late Tuesday, the NCR pulled away from the medal race with 17 gold medals.

NCR also triumphed in secondary softball girls at the expense of Central Visayas, 1-0, behind a two-hitter by Agape Llave.

The Big City softball team, represented by Quezon City-based Miriam School, recorded its second straight shutout win since blanking ARMM, 5-0, in Day 1.

NCR elementary and second baseball teams also advanced to the quarterfinals with similar 3-0 records.