GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Back-to-back champion South Cotabato province has started strong in its bid for third strong championship in the 2018 Soccskargen Regional Athletic Association (SRAA) meet.
South Cotabato notched three gold medals, four silvers and two bronzes as of Monday noon to lead the initial medal tally in the week-long regional meet, which fired off Sunday at the South Cotabato Sports Complex in Koronadal City.
It was closely followed by Sarangani Province with two golds, one silver and two bronze medals, General Santos City and Sultan Kudarat with one gold each and Koronadal City with two silvers.
Palarong Pambansa veteran Nathaniel Morales of Surallah took the first gold medal for the province on Sunday by topping the secondary boys’ 1,500-meter (m) run.
He clocked 4 minutes and 14.24 seconds to beat Lloyd Armada of Koronadal City and Robert Larano, who finished second and third, respectively.
The 17-year-old runner won the bronze medal for the 3,000m steeplechase in the 2017 Palaro held in Antique province.
Team mates Angelie Arano and Christy Ann Collado gave the province a one-two finish in the 1,500m run-secondary girls for the gold and silver medals.
Essa May Agdeppa brought the third gold medal for the South Cotabato delegation in the long jump for elementary girls category.
Alex Floro, Department of Education-South Cotabato sports coordinator, said they are hoping to sustain the province’s hot start en route to another regional championship.
He said their athletes are currently in peak form after completing a 25-day “rigid” training camp in preparation for the SRAA meet.
The province’s athletics team had also underwent a four-month training at South Cotabato Sports Complex under the tutelage of Olympian Henry Dagmil.
“We’re hoping to continue this momentum and reach our goal to repeat as champions,” Floro said.
The province initially recaptured the SRAA championship in 2016 and successfully defended it in last year.
South Cotabato’s 801-strong delegation, which is the biggest in recent years, comprise 575 athletes, 144 coaches and chaperones and 82 officials.(HST/PNA)
