Aetas among future OCR bets

Gellyann Soria completing the taho carry challenge alongside race participants. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

After obstacle course racing (OCR) was relegated as a demonstration sport in the coming Southeast Asian Games, the recent Allianz Conquer Challenge became a hunting ground for future national athletes.

Five Aeta athletes from Villa Maria Integrated School in Porac, Pampanga, were among those who competed in the five-kilometer elite categories held in Filinvest, Alabang.

Gellyann B. Soria,  Ivy O. Pelayo, Danilo B. Yugyug, Miracle D. Lansang and Jacob D. King, aged 16 to 22 years, are being supported by Allianz Philippines.

Yugyug, 19, didn’t incur a penalty and was among the top 15 finishers in the 20-obstacle race.

“We are giving them a chance to excel in the sport and improve their skills to help them discover new opportunities along the way,” said Allianz PH’s chief marketing officer Gae Martinez.

The event was supposed to be the first of four national team qualifying events of the Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation (POSF).  —ROMINA S. AUSTRIA