Ateneo-Davao swimmers get ready for Davraa

THE Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet-bound Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) swimmers get ready for the regional qualifying set February 24 to March 1 in Tagum City.

Ateneo coach Rose Rodriguez on Wednesday said five high school and eight grade school swimmers qualified for the Davraa Meet including Jonas Velasco, Lemuel Ledesma and Gerald Gabinete who she said hold much promise in making it to the Palarong Pambansa in Dumaguete City on April 14 to 20.

"I can't gauge the swimmers of other regions. I'm just doing my best to train the Ateneo kids well and I hope they will cooperate," the former national swimming coach said over Facebook chat.

The Ateneans are training at the Grade School's 25-meter pool.

The lack of a standard Olympic-sized 50-meter pool continues to become a major setback for Dabawenyo tankers competing in big sporting events.

In this year's Davraa Meet, the 50-meter pool of Tagum City's new sports complex will be the venue for swimming.

Rodriguez said it's disadvantageous to train in a short course when events to be competed require the standard pool.

She added, "There's really a great difference when you train in a short course and compete in a long course. We will try to go over the distance considering our limitations."

When asked about the city's slump in swimming competitions in recent years, Rodriguez said it usually takes four to five years to produce sensations like cousins Jose Joaquin "Joboy" Gonzalez and Celina Gonzalez who were both alumni of the Ateneo swimming team. Both won gold medals in the previous Palaro and Southeast Asian Age-Group meets. They have also played for Team Philippines in past Southeast Asian Games.

No Davao swimmer, to date, had reached their level of excellence in the sport. (MLSA)