OUT of more than 150 grassroots kids from coastal barangays of Danao City, 35 were selected and given the chance to join the 2016 National Grassroots—Leg 2 Talent Identification Program on March 12 to 13 at the Plantation Bay Resort in Mactan, Cebu.
The talent identification in Danao City last Saturday was spearheaded by Oscar “Boying” Rodriguez, the chairman of Danao City Sports Commission.
The kids who joined the try-outs were evaluated based on their raw skills in swimming, and those selected will represent Danao City in the national grassroots camp.
“The participants are totally from grassroots level. We have to supply everybody with swim caps and goggles. Out of 35, almost half of them are girls,” Rodriguez told Sun.Star Cebu.
He added the talent identification will be good for triathlon in Cebu. The recent tryouts were able to find talents ranging from nine to 19 years old.
Rodriguez said that the try-outs were sponsored by a beach resort in Danao City. The resort allowed the kids to use the swimming pool facility to train during weekdays.
The 35 grassroots kids from Danao City will be joined by the 21 grassroots children from Talisay City and other newbies in the National Grassroots-Leg 2.
The two-day national grassroots clinic will be headed by coach Melvin Fausto with assistant coach Roland Remolino. The coaches will teach the kids the fundamentals of triathlon. As part of their culmination activity, they will take part in an aquathlon event in Plantation Bay.
The aquathlon race will feature 400-meter swim and 2K run, and the are 9 to 10 years old, 11 to 12, 13 to 15 and 16 to 19.