DAVAO City tracksters are getting ready for the upcoming Davao Regional Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet 2017 set on March 19 to 24 in Mati City, Davao Oriental.

Coach Valerio Bulpa of Toril National High School, in a phone interview with SunStar Davao, said they began practices last year right after the athletes qualified from the Davao City Athletic Association (Dcaa) Meet at the Davao City National High School.

"We are doing a cross country run, hurdle drills and trail run once a week," Bulpa said, adding that their beach run and oval run training is set on Sundays.

Bulpa aims that her 15 secondary girl tracksters will advance to the Palarong Pambansa.

"Most of the athletes are already exposed to a high-level of competition and some of them are Palaro veterans," Bulpa added.

The team is composed of Palaro veterans Christine Jean Pongaron of Cabantian National High School, Frencis Mae Dayon of Crossing Bayabas National High School, Sofia Jean of Suwan National High School, Rezalina Cejas of Baguio National High School, Bernadette Mendiola of Teofilo V. Fernadez National High School, Jiev May Palabrica and Grace Tomvin Conejar of Lower Tamugan National High School, and Riza Tuba of Marilog National High School.

Completing the city's roster are Sharon Gay Marcojos, Andrea Annabelia De Guia and Shamae Jison of DCDNHS, Jennyvie Gubal of Marahan National High School, Erminda Albino of A.L. Navarro National High School, Hiacinth Afable of Panaga High Scool, and Christine Grace Beria of Dr. S. Dacudao National High School.

Bulpa, however, expects a tough competition against Tagum and Digos cities but is confident of his athletes' capabilities, saying that Bangunan and Mendiola were 2015 Palaro silver medalists while Marcojos and Deguia topped the Mt. Megatong Trail Run Challenge in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte.