ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines (PIA) — Jonieza Mie Sustituedo, who races barefoot, has set a new record by breaking her own in the first day of the 2011 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet here at the Iloilo Sports Complex in Iloilo City.

The twelve-year old girl improved her own record in the 1,500 meter run in the elementary girls division which she posted in last year's Palarong Pambansa with a time of 4:56.93 seconds. Her old record had been 4:57.39 seconds.

Sustitudeo, a grade VI pupil of Don Eugenio Ladrido Memorial Elementary School in Lambunao, said she is not comfortable wearing shoes especially with spikes, when running on the oval.

She said her parents, who are vegetable vendors, are very supportive of her sporting activities despite financial constraints in her training regimen. The girl’s father, Joel Sustituedo, had been an athlete himself during his high school years.

The young girl Sustituedo will run again today in the 800- meter run competition.

During the WVRAA’s first day, Iloilo ruled in the secondary girls and boys’ athletics and elementary boy’s athletics while defending champion Negros Occidental reigned in the elementary girl’s athletics based on results posted on the Department of Education (DepEd) – Iloilo’s website.