An 18-year-old athlete from the Province of Antique clinched a gold medal and broke a Palarong Pambansa record in the discus throw event.

Josh Gabriel Salcedo set a record in the Secondary - Boys finals of the 2025 Palarong Pambansa in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte on May 26, 2025.

The new record measured a distance of 45.52 meters, which surpassed the 42.86 meters recorded in 2023.

Josh has achieved the feat despite being a newbie at the Palarong Pambansa.

Josh even mentioned he was not feeling well upon his arrival in Ilocos.

“Tiwala lang kay Lord na tulungan ako. Ibinigay ko ang 100% ko, ang best of the best na performance at si Lord ang nagbigay sa akin ng strength. All-out ako kasi marami na ang sakripisyo at malaki na ang expense namin,” Josh said.

His winning throw does not only represent his aspiration, but his father’s as well who is a former Palaro athlete in the shot put event.

"Araw-araw magkasama kami, nakikita ko ang sakripisyo niya. Kahit mainit patuloy sa practice. May time nga na parang susuko na pero nagpapasalamat pa rin ako at kinaya naman niya,” Ronie John Salcedo, Josh’s father, said.

Meanwhile, Mico Villaran of Bacolod City also pitched a medal for Western Visayas in the 110-meter hurdles - Secondary Boys category.

Mico broke a 15-year-old record at the  Palaro by clocking 14 seconds, or 0.68 seconds faster than the record set in 2010.