Summer camp for athletes set

MANILA, Philippines — A small bunch of outstanding young athletes will be sent to Baguio City to train all through summer.

The athletes, aged 15 years and younger, were culled from the Philippine Sports Commission’s Batang Pinoy program, according to PSC chair Richie Garcia Thursday.

Garcia said they were planning to start their “Summer Camp” after the school year ends, and ensure that the young athletes will continue to progress in their respective sports.

He added that they also planned to include outstanding athletes in the coming Palarong Pambansa in Laguna. They will then undergo training under national team coaches at the PSC facilities inside Teachers’ Camp.

The PSC chief said they would then try to recommend the athletes to the developmental pool of the national sports agencies.

“We want them to continuously train especially now that they don’t have any tournament to look forward to,” said Garcia.

Track and field athletes will be handled by American speed and conditioning coach Ryan Flaherty, who has started mentoring the national team that competed in the last Southeast Asian Games.

Expected to be included in the camp is Leyte Sports Academy’s sprinter Karen Janario, who won five golds and broke three records in the Batang Pinoy national finals early this year in Bacolod City.  Quezon City swimmers led by Kirsten Chloe Daos and Raissa Gavino are also likely to join along with Baguio City tanker Jenkins Labao who amassed seven golds in Bacolod City.