LAOAG CITY’S 1ST SAND DUNES RACE, A SUCCESS; KEON VOWS TO HOLD YEARLY

March 4, 2023 Provincial

Pamulinawen’s sports extravaganza

LAOAG, Ilocos Norte

Sports tourism at its best with the overwhelming success of the recently concluded first edition of its sand dunes race, Laoag City Mayor Mike Keon vowed to hold the sports spectacle yearly. “ For a first time event, I think we did good, and we will make this an annual event already, looking forward to doubling the participants,” said Keon , brainchild of Gintong Alay sports program in the 80’s.

Under Keon’s leadership, the program (Gintong Alay) built with emphasis on scientific training, gathered budding athletes across the country and become country’s pride with the likes of former Asia’s sprint queen Lydia de Vega, long jumper Elma Muros-Posadas (Southeast Asian Games “Iron Lady), steeplechase specialist and Olympian Hector Begeo, among others.

Actually, the sand dunes race was part of Pamulinawen Festival, inspired by the richness of Ilocano culture. Based on fellow sportswriter Lito Cinco’s account, some 300 local and visiting runners took
the challenge of the epic and first ever sand dunes race hosted by the premiere city of the north-Laoag last weekend. National team runners, showed supremacy and dominated the 5K and 10K
distance race held at the La Paz undulating sand dunes, led by by 400m hurdles legend and
PATAFA National Training Director Nonoy Unso with national team member Sonny Wagdos ,and SEA Games bronze medalist Joida Gagnao. In the 10K run, 7-11 national champion Richard Solano and SEA Games 2019 gold medalist and 2021 silver winner Christine Hallasgo ruled their respective divisions.

Primo Agatep/ABN