THE 73rd UAAP Track and Field Championships concluded on a disappointing note for the Blue and Lady Tracksters.
After championship performances in the 57th Sabah Open in Malaysia and the 2010 University Games in Dumaguete, the Tracksters found themselves sliding down to a fourth place finish. For the men’s team, it would be the first time to finish outside the top three since 2005.
Despite hauling three gold, three silver, and six bronze medals, the Blue Tracksters were unable to gather enough points to garner a podium finish. The Lady Tracksters meanwhile, got two gold and two silver medals in the competition.
Unlike most track meets that only reward athletes who finish in the top three positions of each event, the UAAP uses a point system wherein even those who finish in fourth to eighth place can contribute to their team’s overall standing.
Heading into the men’s 4x400m relay, the last event of the competition, the Blue Tracksters were five points away from equaling UST for third overall. The quartet of Soy Soriano, Isaiah Reyes, Franco Imperial and JP Azcueta managed a close race throughout the relay, trailing only FEU and UE. Unfortunately, the Blue and White were unable to keep up the pace in the last 100m, when the DLSU and UST sprinters managed to overtake them.
The Lady Tracksters on the other hand, were able to double their amount of points in the fourth day alone, obtaining points in the women’s pole vault, hammer throw, 4×100 and 4x400m relays.
In the women’s pole vault, Seniors Bettina Maclang and Jam Valenton finished first and second respectively, with jumps of 3.1m and 2.9m. Rookie Mika Perlada surprised everyone, finishing fourth in her first track competition ever, missing only by a mere 10cm.
Captain Mica Sibayan threw 29m, en route to a fourth place finish in the women’s hammer throw, while the 4×100 and 4x400m teams finished fifth and sixth, respectively.
The Lady Tracksters also earned new personal bests in almost all their events in the competition. Even with the departure of key athletes last year, they maintained their team standing while only having 10 people in their roster.
Medal haul
The Blue Tracksters began their medal tally with a gold medal finish by Soy Soriano who clocked 10.78s in the 100m dash. Soriano, who won his first gold in the event shares, “It feels very good. I’ve been working three years for this.”
“I started with bronze, last year silver, this year gold. It’s overwhelming,” he said.
Soriano also won the men’s 200m dash, tying the hand time record of 21.8s. In the men’s 4x100m relay, Soriano grabbed silver together with JB Capinpin, Imperial and Reyes.
Sophomore Jeremy Esguerra proved that Ateneo could win medals in the distance events with his outstanding double-bronze performance in the 5 and 10-km walkathon. Esguerra become the first Atenean to win in the said events.
Defending champion in the men’s pole vault, Zek Valera was unable to reclaim his title. But younger brother EJ Valera made up for his absence on the podium, winning the bronze with a 4m jump.
Rookie Capinpin snagged a silver medal in his last attempt in the triple jump; leaping from seventh to second place, missing the gold medal only by 5cm.
Meanwhile, the Ateneo throwers showcased dominance in their events. UAAP Rookie of the Year Al Bugarin won gold and silver medals in the men’s shotput and hammer throw. Senior Angelo Arayata won silver in the shotput and bronze in the hammer and discus throw. Meanwhile, Paco Razon climbed his way from a fifth place position to a bronze medal finish in his final throw in the men’s javelin.
In addition, Sibayan won silver in the women’s shotput and regained her crown in the discus throw, after just finishing in third last year. She threw 36.47m, a new personal best in the disc.
Young team
Despite coming up short, the Blue and Lady Tracksters remain positive.
Sibayan says that she is proud of the Lady Tracksters’ performance, particularly that of the rookies. “We were joined by four rookies this year,” she shares, “They all were able to contribute this year, I’m glad they were able to step up and make the best of their rookie year in track.”
Arayata, who will be taking a fifth year for next season, says that it’s hard to make predictions this early.
But he says, “If I were part of the opposition I’d be very scared of the Ateneo Track Team next year because of the emerging distance team and a more mature throwing team which has already proven its worth.”
Blue Tracksters Captain Azcueta adds to this, “Rookie jitters are still present but all of them showed fierceness throughout the competition.” He continues, “The other schools have tasted the appetizer served by our rookies. Next season, we’ll serve them a knockout of a main course.”
Editor’s Note: The author is also a member of the Ateneo Track and Field team.
Photos by: Joseph Angan
