AFTER BOTH placing sixth in the standings the last time out, the Blue and Lady Eagles are aiming to rise up the rankings in this year’s UAAP Track and Field championships through a vastly revamped program.
The most noticeable changes that have been made to the team are in the coaching department, with long-time Head Coach Mick Perez now being backed by Philippine record holder Sean Guevara, 1996 Olympics participant Roy Vence, and UAAP record holder Glenn Arcangel.
The star-studded coaching staff has also introduced a new roster se- lection process; the team hosted an invitational meet that served as a tryout for the final UAAP lineup. The performance of the athletes against the standards set by the coaching staff ultimately decided who will represent the Blue and White in the UAAP championships.
The Men’s team will be missing graduates Maki de Jesus and Sam Therman, the latter being the only pole vaulter of the team. However, Team Captain Jethro Alba assures that the team is still intact, as they have made the necessary adjustments to make up for these losses.
With the Blue Eagles led by graduating players JB Capinpin, Miko Perez, and Joel Magturo, Alba is optimistic of their chances this season. With all the changes that have been made and the efforts they have put into training, he believes that a podium finish is in sight. “We’re hoping to get up to third,” he says.
The star-studded coaching staff has also introduced a new roster selection process; the team hosted an invitational meet that served as a tryout for the final UAAP lineup.
Meanwhile, Lady Eagles Kim Zulueta and Hannah Malate, veterans of the sprints and heptathlon events, respectively, will be leading a fairly young team. “This year will be difficult because we have a lot of rookies,” Team Captain Georgia Martelino says. Nevertheless, she notes that the new 4×1 team showed potential in their previous meets.
Although the lady tracksters are still looking to climb up the ranks, Martelino shares that the team is not looking at a specific position. “We’re targeting improvement and individual performances,” she explains.
With the changes to the program made by the new coaching staff, both Alba and Martelino are optimistic that the hard work of the Ateneo tracksters will reflect in their results.
