SOUTHEAST Asian (SEA) Games silver medalists Sonny Wagdos and Arlan Arbois Jr., and key members of the national track and field team, are set to lead Davao City's athletics contingent in the Philippine National Games (PNG) scheduled for December 17 to 22 in Metro Manila.
Kenneth Sai, the president of the Davao City Track and Field Association (Dctafa), confirmed that the city's athletics team is fully geared up for the competition, which is open to participants aged 18 and above.
Wagdos, a former standout at the University of Mindanao (UM), will be racing in the men's 3,000m and 5,000m races. Notably, he clinched a silver medal for the Philippines in the 32nd SEA Games in the 5,000m category.
In a Facebook interview with SunStar Davao, he said, "Ganahan mi mudula kay tungod ni support ang Davao sa athletics (We like to play because Davao supports athletics)."
Wagdos last donned Davao City's colors in the PNG in Pangasinan where he also captured the men's 5,000m gold. He also represented the city in the past editions of the BIMP-Eaga Games and brought home several medals, including gold.
Arbois, a SEA Games men's marathon silver medalist and a former scholar at Brokenshire College, is set to participate in the men's 5,000m and 10,000m events.
Rounding up the men's team are UM tracksters Adrean Cabacang (sprint, relay), Johnny Gil Meder (400m, relay), Dharlie Joey Baguisan (sprint, relay), Kenneth Alipan (hurdle/relay), Lynbert Pili (javelin), and Khristian Muñoz (throws), along with Run Out of Poverty's (Roop's) Norman Carl Luardo (middle distance/relay).
On the women's side, the city's athletics team will be headlined by bemedaled middle-distance specialist Andrea de Guia. Joining her are Bernadette Mendiola (sprint, jump, relay), Angeline Reponte (sprint, relay), Kate Duffy Mcdowell (middle distance, relay), Lyka Catubig (walk, long distance), and Sofia Jean Bangunan (throws).
UM varsity athletics team mentors Harrish Ratag and Ernesto Alsa will oversee the city squad's coaching duties. MLSA