• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental trailed behind Iloilo, which was declared as the overall champion, to settle for first runner-up in the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet 2024 held in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, from May 2 to 7.
Iloilo bagged a total of 218 gold, 159 silver and 111 bronze medals all in elementary, secondary, para games and demo sports, based on the official results released by the Department of Education–Western Visayas on Tuesday.
Negros Occidental captured 170 gold, 167 silver and 149 bronze medals, followed by Aklan with 52 gold, 64 silver and 117 bronze medals.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that Negros Occidental needs to have more time to prepare for the next WVRAA Meet, if it aims to become champion again.
Lacson noted that Iloilo had 45 days of training as they held their Provincial Meet as early as February.
“We were not as ready as Iloilo was. It’s a lesson learned that we schedule our Provincial Meet early,” the governor said.
“I think it’s really the amount of time to prepare for the regional meet that spelled the difference between Iloilo and Negros. We should learn from that,” he added.
Lacson congratulated the performance of Negrense athletes, especially those who won the gold and qualified for the Palarong Pambansa.
He said that they are also studying the giving of incentives to athletes who won gold medals in the WVRAA Meet, which Negros Occidental successfully hosted, citing positive feedbacks they are getting.
The WVRAA Meet was also participated by the provinces of Antique, Capiz and Guimaras.
Meanwhile, adjudged with special awards for Cleanest and Greenest Delegation were Capiz, first; Aklan, second; and Antique, third; Best in Uniform – Capiz, first; Negros Occidental, second; and Iloilo, third; Best in Saludo – Guimaras, first; Capiz, second; and Antique, third; Most Festive – Antique, first; Guimaras, second; and Aklan, third; Most Disciplined – Guimaras, first; Antique, second; and Capiz, third. | GB
