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| photo (c) oregonrelays.runnerspace.com |
Promising sprinter Zion Corrales Nelson will represent the country in the 2016 International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Junior Championships that will be held in the City of Kazan, Russia.
“I started to get track practices during the fall and continue all the way until the competition next year,” said Corrales-Nelson, who was named Athlete of the Year for Athletics by the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association in 2014.
The 16-year-old track star was not able to compete in this year’s 9th IAAF World Youth Championships in Colombia because of her shin splints or pain in the front or side of the lower leg. She is under medication and still on recovery phase.
“It’s better to be safe than sorry,” added Nelson.
In 2014, the young sprinter has won “Triple Crown Gold” in the Oregon relays after winning the gold in 100 meters, 200m, and 400m. She has started to be engage in track sport when she was on the third grade and later joined clubs to further boosts her skills.
“My family, my coaches encourages me every day to work harder to reach the goals that I have. I want to get in the Olympics and represent the Philippines. I am very blessed to be able to run for such a beautiful country and I hope that in doing so, I can inspire many Filipinos,” Nelson said.
Besides track and field, Corrales-Nelson also plays basketball for Burnaby’s St. Thomas More. She comes from a family where sports runs in their blood. Arellano University Chiefs basketball player Zachary Nicholls and New York Rangers hockey player Josh Nicholls are her first cousins.
Nelson holds the Philippine national record in the 400-meter category (54.18 seconds), breaking former Asia’s track queen Lydia de Vega-Mercado’s record of 54.74. Olympian Robert Esmie and Winston Reckords currently mentor her with her father as a sideline coach.
Source: Jean Russel V. David of manilatimes.net
