Cagayan de Oro Athletic Association (COAA)
The Cagayan de Oro Athletic Association (COAA) is a key force in the regional athletic scene, representing the city’s top student-athletes. For many years, it was a dominant force in the Northern Mindanao Regional Athletic Association (NMRAA) Meet, but its legacy is marked by both periods of sustained excellence and recent challenges.
A History of Athletic Dominance
The COAA’s reputation for being a “sports superpower” is built on its long history of winning the NMRAA Meet.
- Eight-Year Streak: The association achieved an eight-year overall championship streak, a period from 2005 to 2012 that solidified its position as a dominant force in the region.
- 2017 Performance: In the 2017 Palarong Pampook, the COAA delegation’s overall performance was outstanding, finishing with a total of 123 gold, 25 silver, and 57 bronze medals.
Recent Performance and Key Developments
In recent years, the competitive landscape has shifted, with other divisions breaking COAA’s long-standing reign.
- 2024 NMRAA Champion: The 2024 Northern Mindanao Regional Athletic Association (NMRAA) Meet was hosted in Camiguin, where One Bukidnon emerged as the overall champion.
- A New Chapter: In 2025, the Misamis Occidental Athletic Association (MisOcc) secured its first-ever NMRAA championship, marking a significant shift in regional sports dynamics.
Historical Hosts and Venues of the NMRAA Meet (2016-2025)
The NMRAA meet has been hosted by various locations across Northern Mindanao, each playing a part in the region’s sports history. The following list is compiled from public records and local news, with some years being more documented than others.
- 2025: Misamis Occidental (Oroquieta City)
- 2024: Camiguin
- 2023: The NMRAA meet was a multi-venue event held across several Schools Division Offices, including Cagayan de Oro City.
- 2020-2022: NMRAA meets were not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as confirmed by DepEd memos that suspended various school activities during these years.
- 2019: The host of the NMRAA meet was Misamis Oriental.
- 2018: The NMRAA meet was held in Tangub City, Misamis Occidental.
- 2017: The Cagayan de Oro City Schools Division was the official host of the Palarong Pampook.
- 2016: The host was Mambajao, Camiguin.
The city’s history with national sports is also significant, as the Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Complex hosted the Palarong Pambansa in 1975, the first to be held outside of Metro Manila.
