For the past three UAAP seasons, the Ateneo track and field team has shown constant results with three third place finishes for the men and no-place endings for the women. But season 72 might just be the year that the Blue and Lady Tracksters could further their claim at a spot in the history books.
“We aim to go for the UAAP title in the men’s division and the first-ever UAAP podium finish in the women’s division,” head coach Mick Perez says.
Maturity
If the off-season showing of the track team is any indication, the road to Season 72 is looking good.
The team has expressed their seriousness to achieve their ultimate goal since the start of the year. With their twice-a-day training and conditioning plus the inclusion of four reputable coaches focusing on specific events, the athletes have experienced vast improvements.
Seniors’ captain Zek Valera explains, “Through their [the coaches’] knowledge, we were really able to further improve our technical proficiency.”
To set the pace going, the Eagles bagged the second and third spots for the first time ever in the men’s and women’s division, respectively, in the 14th University Games on October. The team then continued on to a medal blitz, winning 27 for the men’s and 10 for the women’s in the finals of the Colgate-Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association Relays on November.
“Maganda na nag-ma-mature na yung team (it’s good that the team is maturing), from the seniors down to the lower batches,” Valera says. “You could say that our level of performance is reaching its peak.”
Hurdles
Several minor injuries among team members may pose a problem for the team, however, as the season goes on. Being undermanned is also challenge for the women’s team, which has only 12 members—three of which are even part of the beach volleyball team.
But the team is not disheartened. Lady Tracksters captain Maita Mendoza says, “We’re just trying to show that we can still make quality performances rather than [focusing on] quantity.”
“This year is actually one of our strongest teams,” Mendoza adds. Out in the field, the team may be challenged in long distance events, but has developed a strategy to offset the point gap. Hopefully, the team’s strengths in sprints, throws and jumps will carry them up the rankings.
In a matter of three months, the Tracksters will be venturing into their final stop, the UAAP. Valera says that the remaining time the team has will be spent on intense training. “[There will be] no Christmas break for everyone [as we would be using that period for training],” he says.
He adds, “That’s how focused we are, so seriously expect a lot of surprises.”
The track and field UAAP competition will be held on February 2010 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
