GO FOR GOLD. Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation (POSF) president Alberto Agra (center) talks about the medal chances of the national team in the 30th Southeast Asian Games during the launching of the Pretty Huge Obstacles (PHO), a world-class obstacle course training facility at the SM Aura Premier Civic Center in BGC, Taguig City on Friday (Feb. 1, 2019). (PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.)
MANILA -- The Philippines is eyeing to sweep all six gold medals at stake in the obstacle course race at the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG).
Obstacle Course Race (OCR) is one of the sports featured in the SEAG, which will be held in the country from November 30 to December 11 this year. To be contested are the individual 100-meter and 5-km. races (men and women) and mixed team 400-meter race (team assist and relay).
"We will strive for six gold medals. We have the facility and our athletes are determined to win," Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation (POSF) president, lawyer Alberto Agra, said during the launch of the Pretty Huge Obstacles (PHO), a world-class obstacle course training facility at the SM Aura Premier Civic Center in Bonifacio Global CIty, Taguig City on Friday.
The PHO, which is considered as Asia's largest indoor obstacle course facility, will serve as the official training center for the national athletes.
The PHO has a huge number of obstacles configurable into more than 100 flexible combinations. It includes both an Adult and Kid Obstacle Zones, a 100-meter elevated race track, functional and obstacle training classes, five-star level changing rooms, and a health food lounge. Among the obstacles inside are quintuple angles steps, monkey bars, five-foot wall, balance beam, small wheels, nine-foot wall, island hops, gymnast rings, weaver, cliffhanger, tarzan swing and the famous wave wall -- all designed to push limits.
During the launch, Agra also presented the members of the national training pool composed of Jeffrey Reginio, Manolito Divina, Nathaniel Sanchez, Vernier John Miranda, Sarah Jane Lim, Chrystalle Joan Omaga, Kaizen dela Cerna, Juvelle Pua, Alex Gabriel Rosario, Mervin Rencel Santiago, Racky Madorable, Kyle Redentor Antolin, Glorien Merisco, Anne Kathleen Santos, Rochelle Suarez, Klymille Keilah Rodriguez, Jose Mari de Castro Jr., Mark Julius Rodelas, Ali Zandra Chongbian, and Milky Mae Tejares.
PHO brand ambassador Noel Agra said that obstacle course racing is a functional sport that involves a lot of running, swimming, and climbing walls.
"Conquering obstacles makes you feel like a kid again and Filipinos are known to persevere and to never give up. I believe that by conquering physical obstacles, you get to conquer the mental and harder obstacles in life," the son of Agra said.
The launch was attended by World Obstacle Course Race president Ian Adamson, Philippine Olympic Committee president Ricky Vargas, and PHO chief strategic officer Charz Kelso, chief operating officer Ritsuo Arao, and chief financial officer Mike Yung. (PNA)
