Iloilo Barefoot Beast, Trixia Anne Arellano with a record-breaking Victory in the 200-meter run for Elementary Girls during the 65th Palarong Pambansa

Trixia Anne Arellano, an 11-year-old sprinter from Western Visayas, made headlines at the 65th Palarong Pambansa in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, by winning the gold medal in the elementary girls’ 200-meter sprint with a time of 26.40 seconds. 

This remarkable performance not only secured her victory but also broke the previous record of 26.7 seconds set in 2008 by Maureen Schrijvers.

What made Arellano’s achievement even more impressive was that she ran barefoot,a choice that garnered widespread attention and admiration. Her coach, Darlyn Rea Azucenas, mentioned that Arellano is accustomed to running barefoot, even during international competitions like the ASEAN Games in Vietnam, as she feels faster without wearing spikes.

Arellano, a Grade 6 student at Concepcion Central School in Iloilo, revealed that she was forced to run barefoot after her shoes broke during the heats:

“The nails of my shoes broke in the heats. I was wearing them when I tripped and they broke,” said Arellano. 

“Thanks to God, I was able to win my first Palaro medal,” Arellano shared humbly.

RAN LIKE A GIRL 🔥🔥

Watch how Iloilo’s Trixia Anne Arellano blazed to gold BAREFOOT in the Elementary 100m of the Palarong Pambansa 2025.#INPalaro2025 #PalarongPambansa #OneSports pic.twitter.com/IfnH8pvyW3

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) May 29, 2025

Arellano’s victory was particularly special as it coincided with her 11th birthday, adding a personal milestone to her athletic success. Her dedication and unique approach to the sport have inspired many and highlighted her potential as a future star in Philippine athletics. 

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