Unit 2’s bet in the 50M breaststroke secondary girls swimming competition has failed to secure a spot in the 2023 Davao Regional Athletic Association Meet after posting a time of 52.67, falling behind frontrunners Units 5 and 6.

Despite placing 7th in the event, Sarah Mae Barani of F. Bangoy National High School promised to bounce back in next year’s city-wide sporting meet to fulfill her dreams of representing the city in regional, national or even in international competitions.

“Dili mawad-an ug pag-asa kung wala nakarga kay makabawi pa next year. Malay nato nga maka DAVRAA pa sa sunod, basta more practice lang jud,” said the 14-year-old swimmer noting that the large part of her swim training was done at sea.

Barani, who lives in the coastline area of Sasa, expressed that the preparations had been difficult for her since she had to practice swimming in the sea from five to eight in the morning so she could catch the high tide.

“Dili ko maka-concentrate sad sa akong langoy tungod sa jellyfish,” she added.

Barani also shared that right after qualifying for the line meet, she had been practicing in a nearby private residential area where she has to pay 80 PHP every time she uses the swimming pool.

At 14, the Sasa-native still has few more years to prove herself in the field of swimming.

Writer: Andrew T. Hui

Graphics: Karl Jay V. Blaquera