SEA YOUTH ATHLETICS AT NAT’L OPEN, IDARAOS MULI SA ISABELA

MATAPOS ang matagumpay na hosting sa Southeast Asian Youth Athletics at foreign-laced National Open Athletics, balak ng Isabela na muling gawin sa kanila ang nasabing torneo at i-promote ang tinaguriang “Corn Capital of the Philippines” bilang sports hub hindi lang sa Region II kundi sa buong bansa.

Maraming national at regional sports competitions kasama ang Palarong Pambansa at Cagayan Valley Athletic meet at ang pinakahuli ang PATAFA organized SEA Youth Athletics at National Open Athletics na dalawang beses na ginawa sa newly refurbished Ilagan Sports Complex.

Kung maalaala balak i-host ng Isabela sa pamamagitan ni Sports head Drolly Claravall ng Batang Pinoy Grand Finals na ginawa sa Baguio City na tinaguyod ng Philippine Sports Commission sa pamumuno ni Chairman William Ramirez. “We want to host national sports competitions because our plan is to promote our sports complex and encourage the youth to indulge actively in sports as vehicle to achieve international prominence,” sabi ni Claravall. Si Claravall ay isang rabid sports enthusiast at sumali sa World Masters Athletics kasama sina track legends Elma Muros-Posadas, Olympian Marestella Torres, Erlinda Lavandia, Dorie Cortejo, Julio Bayaban, Emerson Obiena at dating SEA Games javelin record holder Danilo Fresnido.

Kahit si PATAFA president Philip E. Juico pabor na muling gawin sa Isabela ang National Open Athletics dahil popular ang athletics sa nasabing lalawigan. “The people of Isabela are enthusiastic to witness another athletics competition,” sabi ni Juico, dating chairman ng Philippine Sports Commission. Anim na bansa na kasapi sa ASEAN Malaysia, Singapore, at Timor Leste ang lumahok sa SEA Youth at National Open Athletics.