Batang Pinoy track events in jeopardy

DAPITAN CITY—The POC-PSC Batang Pinoy 2012 track events, including crowd-drawers 100-meter and 200-meter sprints, are in danger of getting scrapped due to a damaged oval.

Officials said the weather-beaten track of Rizal Memorial State University Sports Complex is not fit for competitions as the sporting meet for 15-years and under raised curtains here yesterday.

Philippine Sports Commission lawyer Jay Alano, who is also the project director, said they also checked out the Dipolog track stadium but it also didn’t meet the safety standard.

“The host city was very gracious to agree to become host despite the short two-week notice, and we are thankful for it. We are confident we can come up with a win-win solution,” said Alano.

Dapitan City, which hosted last year’s Palarong Pambansa, agreed to host the event after Cagayan de Oro backed out in the last minute.

The worst-case scenario, according to her, is that track events, which like the 10 other sports on tap here is a qualifying event for the national finals, won’t be held at all.

Instead, Mindanao will be given a certain number of tracksters who will make it to the culminating Iloilo City event next month.