The Blue and Lady Tracksters had a show of personal bests in days four and five of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) weekly relays, in the Ultra Oval in Pasig, last November 27 and 29.
Mica Sibayan led the way for the Blue and White with personal bests in the javelin and the hammer throw events, throwing an impressive 35m in the javelin and 27m in the hammer throw.
Pole vaulters Jam Valenton and Bettina Maclang showed prowess in the women’s pole by clearing 2.55m and 2.95m, respectively. While sprinter Anj Aquino finished the 100m hurdles third in her heat and, also setting a new personal best of 16.57s.
On day five, the Blue and Lady Tracksters maintained their poise. Ally Lim, in her first ever PATAFA competition placed third in the 2-kilometer walk. “I was pretty happy about it,” she shares, “And I get to live and see what’s out there so I know that I have to work hard if I want to get a medal in the finals.”
Distance runner BJ Abesamis also competed, joining the 3-kilometer steeplechase.
While the four-man relay team finished second to UE in the classical relay, it was a close race. The Blue Tracksters led until the last stretch of the 400m, but in the last four meters, UE was able to take over.
Sprinter Soy Soriano led the way for the Blue Tracksters in the 200m by running a blurring 21.8s. Sophomore Franco Imperial ran 22.7s, rookie Ice Reyes ran 23.67s, while captain JP Azcueta finished his 200m in 23.1s.
Most of the performances of the Blue and Lady Tracksters have gained them spots in the PATAFA finals in January. But despite qualifying times and distances, the Tracksters continue to join the PATAFA weekly relays as it remains to be good practice to continue their build-up for the UAAP tournament in February.