Vega, Echavez highlight Olango Challenge today

CEBU, Philippines - The most anticipated face-off of two of Cebu’s most decorated teenage female swimmers – Paula Abigail Vega and Loren Dale Echavez – will highlight the 3rd Olango Challenge that unfolds at Tambuli Beach Club-East in Mactan Island at 11 a.m. today.

Vega, the defending champion in the Women’s Open 5-k, is targeting for a grand slam in this open water competition.

 Echavez, on the other hand, will debut in this event. But with her record-breaking performances in the just-concluded Palarong Pambansa in Tarlac, local fans are anticipating a heated battle between the two.

Vega and Echavez had been compared with each other for a long time, but the two rarely cross path with the latter chose not to join the PASA-sanctioned events until this time.

Loren Dale’s elder sister, Lhoriz, is also set to compete today but only in the 3-k action.

In the men’s side, Nikita Dacera is expected to defend his title.

A bunch of seasoned and fun swimmers are anticipated to join the event.

This year’s edition is said to be the shortest, but could be the most challenging one as participants will go for a 2.5-kilometer box-type course.

The event will have over P100,000 in cash prizes plus medals for the top performers and a special prize for the early birds in this Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)-organized event.

Vega had the chance to be part of the RP team in the First Asian Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia for her sterling performance in the first Olango Challenge, which was a cross-channel swim competition.

Organizers of the event are providing a bus to transport the participants to the venue. Assembly area will be at PLDT in Mabolo, Cebu City. Pickup time is 8:30 am. (FREEMAN NEWS)