Distance runner Chrisia Mae Tajarros of Eastern Visayas finally got her redemption in the secondary girls 3000-meter event after winning the first gold medal of the 65th Palarong Pambansa at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium in Laoag City Monday morning.

The 13-year-old daughter of a fish vendor and a housewife clocked in 10 minutes and 18.6 seconds for the first gold medal of one of the biggest grassroots tournament in the country.

Tajarros couldn't help but feel emotional as her hard work paid off this time after settling for a silver medal in last year's Palaro in Cebu City.

"I got the gold medal and my training didn't go to waste," said Tajarros, an incoming Grade 9 student at Tanauan National High School in Leyte.

"I never even thought I would be back here because I was suffering from muscle pain in our regional tournament."

Mary Mae Magbanua of CARAGA settled for silver with a time of 10:48.4, while Nathalie Faye Miguel of the Ilocos Region placed third with 10:50.4.