Special kids flaunt athletic genius in Special Olympics

GOOD JOB KIDS. Medal winners from the Cebu City contingent in the Special Olympics 2014 pose for photos during yesterday’s closing program at the Sacred Heart School Ateneo de Cebu campus in Mandaue City.
(CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)

By far, this is one of the most successful editions of the Special Olympics regionals.

This was the assessment of Special Olympics Philippines national sports director Christian Doroin at the close of the 2014 Special Olympics Visayas Regional Meet, which drew nearly 300 differently-abled athletes and 200 coaches at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu campus in Canduman, Mandaue City.

Doroin said that the two-day event is not focused on who wins but rather on the performance of the athletes, who are above eight years old but whose Intillegence Quotient (IQ’s) is less than 70.

The athletes competed in athletics, swimming, bocce and unified football. No overall champion was declared.

“It’s not important who got the most number of medals. What’s more important is maraming nag-participate galling sa kung saan saang region ng Pilipinas,” said Doroin.

The unified football crown was won by La Union which defeated Mandaue City, 7-1, in the finals.

In the men’s bocce game, winning golds were Jan Earl Baring of Mandaue City, Nino Sonier of Cadiz City, Dave Rodulph Elison of Iloilo City and Anthony Bautista of Cebu City.

In the distaff side, the gold medal winners were Neri Co of Dumaguete City, Katherine Gan of Iloilo City, Kay Pielago also of Iloilo and Majissa Gasito of Cebu City.

There were also competitions in athletics and swimming.

Winning gold in the 50m sprint were Baby Jean Fernandez of Mandaue City, Rey Alfred Nainge of Cadiz City and his teammate Richelle Muralla, Rochel Ann Mejia of Toledo City, Manuelyn Polgo of Cadiz City, Jhea Zaragosa of Dumaguete City and Shauryn Glaze Lacturan of Cebu Province North.

Gold medallists in the 100m were Emilda Soriano of Iloilo City, Maria Nekki Apas of Cebu Province South, Marie Antoinette Tapere of Cebu City Private School, TJ Mae Tutor of Tagbilaran City, MC Merril John Derrama of Cadiz City, Vince Sentillas of Talisay City and Germille Revil of Cebu Prov. South.