The Blue and Lady Tracksters completed an all around performance garnering eight gold, six silver, and two bronze medals, as they emerged overall champions in the Sabah Open Athletics Championship, held in Malaysia from August 7-8.

Competing against other Malaysian and Brunei teams, including the Malaysian National Team B, the Ateneo Tracksters achieved gold medals from all throwing events (shot-put, discus, javelin), the 4×400 relay, and the 1500m and 800m distance events.

Amongst the top performers for Ateneo were middle distance runners, captain JP Azcueta who got two gold medals (800m, 4x400m relay), and two silver medals (400m, 4x100m relay), and Joseph Angan, who also picked up two gold medals (1500m, 4x400m relay) and one bronze medal (800m). For the women’s division, Mica Sibayan picked up two gold medals of her own, placing first in discus and javelin.

Desire

The win, however, didn’t come without its complications. With several problems with scheduling, the athletes were made to do several—or perhaps too many—events in one day.

Soy Soriano, who was part of the 4×400 gold medal team and a silver medalist in the 200m event said, “[This competition however] showed our desire to win.”

“Like coach said, despite the odds stacked against us, we showed desire, we fought in our individual relays and events just so we could be champions,” he added.

As the Tracksters’ first ever international track meet, the experience served as an eye opener and a good stepping stone for the UAAP come second semester. “This experience [opened] my eyes for whatever I have to do in preparation for bigger competitions.” Soriano said.

5000m distance runner Jeremy Esguerra said, “It’s a pretty new experience altogether. It showed that what was a dream before, is now a possible reality for the team.”

Coach Mick Perez shares these sentiments, adding that with the unavailability of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association and Rizal, it was an important competition to have.

Renovating the old

On May 1, 2010, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and De La Salle University (DLSU) sanctioning an P8-million project to transform the Rizal oval into a world-class football stadium, left Team Ateneo with one less practice venue.

Due to the absence of proper track and field facilities within the Ateneo campus—the two-lane 200 meter oval in Moro being the closest to a track oval—the Tracksters usually hold formal practice sessions in Rizal, but to make way for renovations, the eight lane track is temporarily closed to the national athletes, and to the general public.

“At a time when we have more determined athletes and coaches intent on training and winning the championship, the lack of facilities is a problem that has gotten much worse,” coach Mick said regarding the issue.

Lack of facilities

The MOA signed by La Salle alumnus and PSC chairman Harry Angping, and DLSU Vice-Chancellor for the Lasallian Mission and External Relations, Bro. Bernard Oca, FSC, ignited an eight-year partnership between both parties.

DLSU committed to finance the project while holding full responsibility of the facility’s preservation and maintenance, and in return the PSC granted DLSU and the College of St. Benilde rights to use the newly-renovated football field on certain days.

All track and field equipment from Rizal has already been moved to Ultra. The Ateneo track team has also relocated to the PhilSports Complex in Pasig. Currently, the Ateneo jumpers use the jumping pits in Ultra, while the throwers train in Moro due to the constrictions of space in Ultra posing danger to the joggers who frequent the Pasig oval.

Despite the recent turn of events, Coach Mick said that the Ateneo track and field team has always made the best of what is given. “It is in the quality of character and training that forms winning and champion teams, not in the monopolizing of sports facilities.”

This point that has been duly proven with their victory in Malaysia. Now with an international competition under their belt, the Tracksters will not let anything get in their way of victory.

“We have been taking this attitude for years and we have risen among the ranks of collegiate varsity teams,” the coach said.