THE ATENEO Women’s Track and Field Team (AWTFT) snatched their first points and first medal in Day 3 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Athletics Tournament, on December 2 at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City.
Soaring to an incredible height of 3.10m, Blue Eagle Jia Kawachi was awarded the team’s first medal as she won the silver in the Women’s Pole Vault event. Kawachi cleared the 3.10m mark after multiple attempts, while teammate Kanna Shimoda bowed out of the same event.
[Women’s Pole Vault]
— Luis Antonio Licas (@Luis_TheGUIDON) December 2, 2022
Despite barely missing her attempt, Kawachi secures Ateneo’s first medal.#UAAPAthletics pic.twitter.com/TCYEsXLCYN
Jasha Tan was the sole Atenean representative for the Women’s 400-meter event. Competing in the first heat, Tan finished 25th overall with a time of just over a minute, 1:07.90.
[Women’s 400m]
— Luis Antonio Licas (@Luis_TheGUIDON) December 2, 2022
Jasha Tan concludes her 400m heat.@TheGUIDONSports #UAAPAthletics pic.twitter.com/JFOHfm1u11
Clocking in at 6:04.99 seconds in the Women’s 1500-meter event, Franxine Regalado finished in 11th place. Regalado was also the sole runner for the Blue and White in this event.
Racing through the Women’s 4×100-meter Relay event were Louise Cabrera, Patricia Reyes, Tan, and Shimoda. Finishing their rally at 56.58 seconds, the Blue Eagle quad ranked 4th overall in the event.
In the Women’s Discus Throw event, Hillary Dee and Marie Alessandra Dueñas placed 11th and 18th, landing their tosses at 27.37 meters and 17.02 meters respectively.
[Women’s 4x100m Relay]
— Luis Antonio Licas (@Luis_TheGUIDON) December 2, 2022
Jasha Tan, Louise Cabrera, Patee Reyes, and Kanna Shimoda rep the Blue and White in the 4×100 finals.#UAAPAthletics pic.twitter.com/EfaRoIU3wA
Silver Medalist Kawachi remains grateful for still performing at her best despite the struggles that she encountered in the previous four months posed upon the resumption of training. “I’m just really happy that I was able to clear my best this season and I’m just thankful also that I was able to bring home the silver for Ateneo,” Kawachi said.
Despite Kawachi’s second-place finish, the AWTFT remains at eighth place after garnering 16 points as of December 2 to conclude the third day of the tournament. The Ateneo Blue Eagles will conclude the final bouts of UAAP Season 85 and race past the finish line tomorrow, December 4, at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City.
