ACQUIRING VALUABLE experiences ahead of the upcoming collegiate season, the Ateneo Track and Field Team (ATF) competed in this week’s edition of the 2024 Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) Weekly Relay Series.
The tournament began last July, with many athletes from the Loyola Heights-based squad returning to the turf for this weekend’s events. Week seven of the tournament was held earlier today at the PhilSports Athletics Stadium in Pasig City.
Shot put
Continuing their strong start from their previous showings, rookies Airex Villanueva and Jose Costelo finished this week’s competition bagging the top two spots, justifying why they are highly-anticipated athletes despite being the lone Ateneans in the shot put event.
Villanueva showcased superior strength, tallying a distance of 14.00 meters to top the competition. Meanwhile, Costelo also impressed after placing second with a covered distance of 12.40 meters.
200m
Commencing the set of track events for the ATF was Men’s Team Captain Joaquin Ipapo who competed in the 200m open division. The tenured leader set the tone for the Blue Eagles after finishing first in his heat and tied for ninth overall with National University’s Dexter Manaois. Ipapo also recorded a new personal best after clocking in 23.02 seconds.
Following him shortly after was fellow veteran Nash Candelario who sprinted with a speed of 22.71 seconds, securing fourth in the under-20 division. Meanwhile, Chonel Okolo, who was also part of the same division, set his own personal best with a time of 24.34 seconds.
Meanwhile, Jasha Tan suited up as the lone bet for the Blue and White in the women’s open category. The Atenean skipper placed fifth in her heat and ninth overall after finishing with a time of 28.42 seconds.
Completing the Ateneo’s performances in 200m, incoming rookie Krisha Aguilon set her sights on leaving a memorable performance in the under-20 division. The former three-peat Palarong Pambansa champion proved that she could be a force to be reckoned with in the collegiate leagues after finishing third with a time of 26.93 seconds. On the other hand, sophomore Francesca Cheng clocked in at 32.94 seconds, an almost similar result to her 32.67 run back in August.
5000m Race Walk
Competing at the competition’s longest event, veteran racewalker Luis Antonio Licas was poised to build on his personal best from last year’s final PATAFA tournament.
However, despite keeping up with the leaders for the first 200 meters, Licas was hit with an early bent knee violation, shattering his momentum. Nonetheless, Licas pushed through with the race, only coming to a complete stop following a red paddle by the 2-kilometer mark.
Although being disqualified, Licas tied with two other contestants, concluding his race with a de facto fourth-place result.
800m
In the final individual track event, highly-touted rookie Hassan Loraña dominated the 21-man pool of athletes in the middle distance event, finishing first with a full second ahead of second-placer Ronie Fernandez.
With a time of 1:56.27 in his first appearance at the 800m open event in the PATAFA tourney, Loraña showed that he has what it takes to compete with older competitors.
Mixed 4x100m Relay
The quartet of Aguillon, Cheng, John Tumangan, and Adrian Magsino banded together for the under-20 Mixed 4x100m Relay to wrap up Ateneo’s tournament day, clocking in a time of 49.94 seconds.
Following another successful week in Pasig, the ATF will look to bolster their push for the PATAFA Finals as qualifiers continue on September 21 at the same venue.
Editor’s Note: Ateneo Track and Field Team member Luis Antonio Licas is currently one of the Sports Editors of The GUIDON.
