PRIOR TO this year’s track and field competitions, the Blue Eagles appeared to be a different team. After a successful training camp in Lingayen over the Christmas break, they possessed a goal which seemed inevitable for them to reach: the peak of the podium for the men, and a second runner-up finish for the women.

Last February 4 to 7 in the Rizal Memorial Stadium, however, the  team was only able to secure a respective bronze-medal finish with 145 points, next to FEU’s 182 and shock first place UE’s 196, and a fourth place finish, with the Lady Tamaraws nth gold crown.

Captain and leading pole vaulter for the Blue Tracksters, Zac Valera, says, “Looking at UE’s line-up though, our coach had a gut feel that they could win the championship. They had a well-balanced line-up that gave them great potential to win.”

Flying High. Bettina Maclang (III BS CTM) clears 2.70m at the Women’s Pole Vault to win the Silver medal behind teammate Jam Valenton who cleared a height of 2.80m. | Photo by Joseph S. Angan

Strategy

Initially, Ateneo targeted the first and last days to be their strongest days of the tourney. Their strategy was to establish a solid lead on the first day, descend the rankings for a while and still emerge atop in the end.

But with each school elevating their athletics and hunger for the crown, the intended blueprint was not fully achieved.

“Due to the higher level of competition, we were not able to create a very big lead in the first day so as to minimize the points that we had to catch up for the subsequent days,” Valera explains. Furthermore, the demands of academics and injuries on these student-athletes also affected the team.

“Hence, we were trailing by a number of points that got bigger as the days progressed, making it too difficult to catch up.”

Key player for the ladies in blue, Mica Sibayan was sporting an ankle injury which may have obstructed her throws throughout the competition. Aside from that, the women’s team was undermanned, competing with just 12 athletes, 6 of which were rookies.

“At this point, aside from being undermanned, experience was a key factor,” captain Maita Mendoza says. “[For many of the girls] it was the first for them to participate in a meet with such a high competitive level.”

Onto the tournament

To kick things off, Mike Mendoza bagged Ateneo’s first gold in the 110 meter hurdles as he headed the pack in 15.04 seconds while Carlos Soriano garnered a second place finish in the 100 meter dash. Soriano repeated such a feat as he ticked in second in the 200 meter race to win the Tracksters’ only medal of the second day. Christopher Hey bagged the sole third day medal with a gold in the shot-put event.

One the last leg of the tourney, the men in blue gave their all.

Ateneo obtained points through Itunu Kuku who aced the High Jump and Triple Jump events, Mendoza’s team of sprinters conquering the 4x100m relay, and Valera topping the pole vault.

Hard fight. The Tracksters have overcome a lot of hurdles this season to get to their winning ways. | Photo by Joseph Angan

This being his last UAAP season, Valera defended his gold with conviction. From five competitors going head to head on 3.80 meters, it all went down to Valera and Javier Gomez from UP.

Gomez had the upper hand as he cleared 4.00 meters and 4.10 meters with relative ease in just his first attempts. Valera, on the other hand, faced eliminations in the said heights.

With the bar up at 4.20 meters, Gomez was unable to sustain a clear run till the third try. On his last jump, Valera provided a spectacle as he landed on the opposite side with the bar unscathed.

“Right after I saw that the bar did not fall at 4.20 meters. I could not believe it. I could never have done it without His help,” Valera says.

Onto the women’s division, Mendoza claimed the gold and silver in the 100 meter and 200 meter dash respectively. Sibayan overcame her injury with a bronze in both the shot-put and the discus throw.

Jam Valenton and Bettina Maclang stood on the top two spots in the pole vault event while Mendoza’s team ran for bronze in the 4x100m relay.

Indeed, there is still next year for Team Ateneo to perform at their maximum potential and to have their shot at the gold. For now, they are looking at the silver lining.