Allianz-OCR stakes SEA Games pool berths

National team pool slots for this year’s Southeast Asian Games will be up for grabs in the Allianz Obstacle Course Races on March 31 at Filinvest City in Alabang.

The five-kilometer Conquer Challenge, classified as an entry-level obstacle race, will have 20 obstacles as well as a 1.5K category involving eight obstacles while the Ninja OCR will be a series of short distance OCR sans running.

The Ninja division will have individual (male and female), team, kids and dogs categories with varied distance, difficulty and obstacle types per category.

READ: Top 10 finishers in 1st PH OCR Open earn national team pool slots

Last December, the Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation (POSF) announced it will make its debut in the 30th SEA Games which the country is hosting from Nov. 30 to Dec 11.

POSF head Al Agra said they will form a pool composed of 10 male and 10 female athletes, leading to the final roster. Six gold medals will be at stake in Clark–two in the 100 meters (10 obstacles), 400 meters (12 obstacles) and 5K (20 obstacles).

The event also marks the second straight year that Allianz Philippines has partnered with Conquer Challenge Philippines. Last year, the partnership staged three legs, capped by the Clark Global City race in Pampanga where 20 Aeta students, aged 16 to 21 years old, from Villa Maria Integrated School participated. Five Aetas from that batch will join anew this year.

READ: Aetas show endurance, skills in Allianz ‘Conquer Challenge’ race

The school located atop the mountains in Porac, Pampanga, is being supported by Allianz-Philippine National Bank Life

“As a company that uses sports to connect with communities, Allianz Philippines saw how the spirit of the sport is strongly aligned and consistent with our brand belief to give people the courage to move forward and triumph over obstacles,” said Gae Martinez, Allianz-PNB chief marketing officer, during Wednesday’s event launch at Pretty Huge Obstacles in SM Aura.

Conquer Challenge’s James Bungubung, Allianz Philippines’ Rei Abrazaldo and Gae Martinez, PH Obstacle Sports’ Noel Agra and course designer Jay Lim during Wednesday’s event launch at SM Aura in Taguig.

Registration will be accepted until March 25. Participants as young as seven years old may join the races.

Registration fee for the 5K OCR is P2,500 for the elite category and P2,300 for the open category, with finishers getting shirts and medals. The 1.5K fee is P1,200, inclusive of a timing chip, race shirt, and finisher’s mug.

Spectators may also visit the Allianz Explorer Village in the venue. Romina S. Austria