LINGAYEN — Ilocos Norte remained unbeatable, retaining its crown for the ninth straight year in the Ilocos Region Athletic Association (IRAA) meet both in the elementary and secondary levels held in this Capital town last week. Pangasinan II finished a close first runner-up while La Union was second runner-up.

Ilocos Norte’s remarkable victory came mostly from its winning in various sports events which started on February 24 to 29 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen, particularly in baseball, football, softball, volleyball, chess, archery, tennis, gymnastics and swimming.

Ilocos Norte showed a very strong start on the very first day of competition when it notched two gold medals in athletics followed by nine more gold medals from different ballgames the following day.

Pangasinan II, on the other hand, gave its best shot on the second day after fighting it out neck and neck with Ilocos Norte, just one gold medal separating the two contingents. Ilocos Norte won 21 golds while Pangasinan II racked up 20 gold medals.

Boxing aficionados saw spectacular action from Pangasinan athletes who dominated the ring and finished with a resounding victory for Pangasinan II and Pangasinan I which teams grabbed the first and third spots respectively.

Medal standings in athletics such as long jump, high jump, 300-m run, shot put, triple jump, 100-m hurdles, 110-m hurdles, discus throw, 200-m run. 5000-m run, 3000-m and 400-m run were shared by athletes of Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan I and II and La Union.

The best athletes from Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan I and II and La Union will be selected to represent Region I in the coming Palarong Pambansa this April at Puerto Princesa City.
IRAA 2009 will be held in Dagupan City.

The Ilocos Norte athletes who were personally trained by Ilocos Norte Governor Michael Marcos Keon captured four gold in the high school division and seized three more in the elementary division to take the early lead on the first two days of action at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center.

Jerson Ramil Cid took two golds, one in the long jump and another in 100 meter hurdle while Myreife Miguel snatched her own in the 3,000 meters and Fatima Mitra got her piece of gold in shot put, all in the secondary division.

Ilocos Norte got its three other golds in the elementary division when Michael Pinoc ruled in triple jump and 110 meter hurdles and Kris Kate Sonico in 100 meter hurdles for girls.

Pangasinan II landed on second spot with four golds, on account of the victories of Remalyn Yulo in the long jump, Elmer Casildo in the 500 meters, Christy Farnacio in 100 meters, all in the secondary division; and Gleizel Mae Tobias in long jump.

Pangasinan I won in two events, through the victories of Alvin Casiano in shot put in the secondary division and Mary Grace Carolino in triple jump in the elementary division(PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino, with report from PNA)