THE BLUE and Lady Eagles of Ateneo Track and Field opened their medal tally in day 1 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Athletics Championship on Wednesday, November 28, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.

Ateneo came away with a total of four medals; one bronze from the men’s team and an impressive two silvers and a gold from the women’s team.

Women’s Pole Vault

Ateneo’s pole vaulters took center stage in the opening salvo of Season 81, bannered by Jia Kawachi’s gold in the Women’s Pole Vault. Kawachi achieved a staggering height of 3.20m, just 0.20m short of Ateneo Coach Riezel Buenaventura’s record of 3.40m that she set as a Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraw in 2008.

On coming close to breaking Coach Buenaventura’s record, Kawachi couldn’t help but praise her coach. “Even attempting for Coach Rie’s record is an honor,” she said. “I’ m just lucky to be coached by someone that great.”

Coach Buenaventura also expressed her pride in the young protege. “Siyempre, masayang-masaya ako. Malapit na, kayang-kaya niya. Kung may magbreak dun, gusto ko galing din sa’kin.”

(Of course I’m proud. She’s so close to breaking it and if ever she does, I’m glad it was from someone I coached.)

Closely following Kawachi was Bella Artuz who flew for the silver with a height of 3.10m after her eighth place finish in the High Jump with 1.45m.

“This year it was so overwhelming,” Artuz said. “I’m so proud of myself and my teammates achieving their personal bests as well.”

Captain Chaloo Yao also competed in the Pole Vault alongside veteran Martha Capistrano. The duo missed out on the podium after finishing with a height of 2.80m.

Women’s 100m

In the 100m event, Kim Zulueta (12.35s) finished with a silver in hand after ranking first in the heats with 12.34s. Her sister, Krizia Zulueta, made waves in her UAAP debut as she ranked seventh in the final with a time of 12.80s.

Carmela Dublin and Lourdes Matchino also ran in the heats but did not make it to the 100m final. Matchino ranked 15th with a time of 13.21s while Dublin followed right behind at 16th with 13.25s.

Women’s 800m

Day 1’s events proceeded with the 800m heats where Ateneo was represented by the trio of Millefagne Matchino, Marga Delos Reyes, and Marianna Galang. Matchino (2.25.57min) ranked 13th, Delos Reyes (2.32.03min) placed 18th, while Galang (2.36.18min) followed at 18th.

Women’s Hammer Throw

Veteran thrower Sophia De Dios also put up points on the board, with her 32.25m distance landing her in the eighth rank of the Hammer Throw.  

Men’s Pole Vault

The men’s team also found some fortune in the Pole Vault as sophomore Mark Operario clinched a bronze for the Blue and White with a distance of 4.15m.

Men’s 100m

Miguel Garrido was a spark for the team as well, as he made it to the 100m finals after ranking sixth in the heats with a time of 11.09s. Garrido would improve to fifth place as he clocked in at 11.12s in the finals.

Men’s Shot Put

Ending day 1’s campaign for the Blue Eagles were the trio of Team Captain Carlo Ferrer, Miggy Austria, and Hughie Chua in the Men’s Shot Put. Austria led the pack, ranking eighth with a distance of 11.66m. Ferrer was behind at 16th with a distance of 10.39m while Chua came in last with 9.30m.

Day 2

By the conclusion of day one of the tourney, the Lady Eagles took home three medals while the Blue Eagles secured one medal.

Competing in the 200m heats will be Lady Eagles Nika Crisostomo, Carmela Dublin, Sheila Patino, and Kim Zulueta while Kate Gohoc, Viah Mostoles, and Sheila Talja will be taking on the Triple Jump.

Joining the fray in the second day in the 200m heats will be Rafa Dylim, Miguel Garrido, Yuhei Go, and Jonathan Talbot, who will also feature as Ateneo’s sole competitor in the Long Jump.

It will be an event-heavy day for the decathletes as they will finish the first half of the decathlon. Ateneo’s prized decathletes, Henry Gonzales, Mark Operario, and Matteo Crisostomo will don the Blue and White when day 2 of the tourney begins tomorrow, November 29 at the same venue.