By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff reporter
ALL THREE teams from Ilocos Norte failed to win the overall championship in the recent Region I Athletic Association (RIAA) Meet held February 21-26 in San Carlos City, Pangasinan.
Ilocos Norte, a perennial overall champion in recent RIAA meet, fell to fifth place with a medal haul of 27 gold, 42 silver and 55 bronze.
The two other Ilocos Norte teams did not fare better.
Batac landed eighth overall while Laoag placed lower at ninth.
The Batac team won 18 gold, 21 silver and 13 bronze medals; Laoag, on the other hand, finished with 18 gold, 18 silver and 32 bronze medals.
Pangasinan II emerged as overall champion, defending the crown it won last year with 70 gold, 46 silver and 43 bronze medals.
The complete final standings are: Pangasinan II, champion; Dagupan City, second; La Union, third; Urdaneta City, fourth; Ilocos Norte, fifth; Pangasinan I, sixth; Ilocos Sur, seventh; Batac City, eighth; Laoag City ninth; San Fernando City, 10th; Alaminos City, 11th; San Carlos City, 12th; Vigan City, 13th; and Candon City, 14th.
Meanwhile, in the 2016 Special Games, Batac took fourth overall, with Ilocos Norte and Laoag placing seventh and 13th, respectively.
The special games are for athletes with disabilities.