Student-athletes from Bacolod City emerged as champions of the inaugural Negros Island Regional Athletic Association Meet (NIRAAM), with the awarding ceremonies March 6 at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan.
The Bacolod delegation of 626 student-athletes and 276 coaches and training staff, bagged 165 gold, 102 silver, and 102 bronze medals across all sports events at the regional meet that kicked off March 1.
Mayor Greg Gasataya praised the athletes, saying that behind every medal is a young Bacolodnon covered in sweat and dust, breathing hard, legs aching, yet with eyes burning with determination, pushing beyond limits, not just for victory, but for their teammates and the pride of the city.
He stressed that this achievement reflects his long-held belief that supporting one another leads to shared victories, not individual wins.
“What makes this triumph even more meaningful is the spirit behind it,” the mayor said in a city press release. “I witnessed teammates cheering from the sidelines, athletes lifting each other after setbacks, and the entire city rallying behind its youth.”
The Negros Occidental delegation, meanwhile, was first runner-up, with a medal haul of 150 gold, 152 silvers, and 102 bronzes.
Negros Oriental placed second runner-up with 33 gold, 39 silver, and 59 bronze medals. The other delegations across the NIR, in order of ranking, were Dumaguete City, Bayawan City, Kabankalan City, Silay City, Bais City, Guihulngan City, Siquijor, Tanjay City, and Canlaon City.
The Department of Education-NIR said that gold medalists will represent the region, under the Visayan Vipers banner, in the upcoming Palarong Pambansa in Agusan del Sur on May 24 to 31. ||
