A PROMISING start unfolded for the Ateneo Track and Field Teams as they opened their campaign with honorable performances in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 Athletics Tournament. The meet was held yesterday, November 22, at the PhilSports Athletics Stadium in the City of Pasig.
Franxine Regalado was the lone stalwart for the Ateneo Women’s Track and Field Team, who participated in her first 5000m walk event. With her forceful strides on the track, the former distance runner managed to record a time of 36:08.51 seconds.
Jumpstarting the men’s campaign, Lucas Lopez clocked up an 11.68-second sprint in the decathlon 100m contest, ranking fifth among 11 competitors. Thereafter, the decathlete nabbed sixth place in the long jump competition after recording a 6.19-meter leap.
In the 100-meter men’s contest, Atenean tracksters John Gotladera, Julian Ramirez, and Andres Lorenzo delivered lung-busting sprints in their respective heats. Gotladera racked up a personal best of 11.27 seconds to place 17th over 28 contestants. Meanwhile, Ramirez and Lorenzo clocked in at 11.33 and 11.76 seconds each.
For the men’s pole vault event, Lopez entered the competition but fell short of recording a podium finish. Nevertheless, a rejuvenated display took over the Atenean as he bagged the highest ranking thus far for the Blue Eagles, with a 10.32m throw to land second overall in the decathlon shot put.
Following this, Jonathan Reyes stepped into the 800m heats competition with a high-octane showing of 2:06.59, his new personal best. The high-spirited Atenean emerged 11th overall among 19 athletes.
To conclude the closing events for day one, Lopez shook off his last legs and competed in the men’s shot put contest, decathlon high jump, and 400m run. In the first competition, Lopez failed to emulate his prior throw with a 7.23m distance. However, the versatile athlete remained resolute, placing seventh (1.65m) in the high jump and fourth (54.21 seconds) in the 400m decathlon event.
After the eventful day, the Loyola Heights-based tracksters shared that it took a grueling effort to develop as athletes. Nevertheless, members of the team felt nothing but fulfillment and jubilance for the squad’s preserving display. “I think it’s a big improvement for us. […] Hopefully in the next few days until Sunday, it will only get better,” explosive runner Reyes shared in a mix of Filipino and English.
With their starry display on track, the Blue Eagles hope to vie for gold as they march on to day two of the UAAP Athletics Tournament today, November 23, at 1:00 PM in the same venue.
