FEU, UP clinch UAAP Season 87 athletics titles

FEU Lady Tamaraws athletics team win the crown in the UAAP Season 87. –UAAP PHOTO

Far Eastern University and University of the Philippines reclaimed the women’s and men’s titles, respectively, at the UAAP Season 87 athletics championships held at New Clark City Athletics Stadium.

The Lady Tamaraws scored 84 points on the final day, finishing with 397.5 points to claim their league-leading 25th UAAP women’s championship and their first since Season 81. This victory also marked FEU’s first title of the season.

The Fighting Maroons fended off a late challenge from the FEU Tamaraws, ending the competition with 290 points, just four ahead of FEU. This secured their 21st men’s championship and their second title of the season, following the women’s badminton championship.

FEU head coach Ross Hamero expressed her satisfaction with her team’s performance.

“It was an awesome feeling because we all know how hard it is to win a championship. From recruitment to the injuries of players, it was really satisfying, especially since I didn’t expect that our lead would reach 100 points.”

“I’m really impressed with the players; I’m amazed by what they showed. Before, they were like babies, but now, you can see them as true Tamaraws, really fighting,” the long-time mentor added.

University of Santo Tomas took two gold medals on the final day, winning the shot put with Jamela de Asis and the 100-meter hurdles with Lyka Miravalles, finishing in second place with 291 points.

De Asis dominated the shot put with a throw of 12.78 meters, well ahead of FEU’s Mary Jean Maloy-on (11.82m) and UP’s Aina Masangkay (11.05m). Miravalles won the hurdles with a time of 14.68 seconds, narrowly edging La Salle’s Abcd Agamanos, who finished second at 14.69 seconds. UST’s Justine Mae Candoy placed third with a time of 14.96 seconds.

The Fighting Maroons narrowly defeated La Salle for the final podium spot with 195 points, despite the latter’s strong finish. La Salle’s quartet of Hanna Jandra Delotavo, Jessel Lumapas, Erica Ruto, and eventual back-to-back MVP Bernalyn Bejoy set a new UAAP record in the 4x400m relay with a time of 3:47.37, breaking their own record of 3:50.33 set on December 4, 2022. FEU (3:51.43) and UST (3:57.47) finished second and third, while UP’s sixth-place finish (4:08.07) completed the podium.

Lady Tamaraw Shane Ponce was named Rookie of the Year in the women’s division.

UP regains Throne

UP Fighting Maroons men’s athletics team in UAAP Season 87. –UAAP PHOTO

Ed Deliña set the tone for UP’s championship run by winning the men’s hammer throw with a throw of 49.41 meters, well ahead of UST’s John Nicholan Pangan (42.81m) and Jhon Laurenze Ballelos (42.08m).

Josh Buenavista claimed silver for UP in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:31.67, just behind the eventual Most Valuable Player, FEU’s Alfrence Braza, who finished in 9:30.93. National University’s Renz Cruz took third with a time of 9:37.44.

FEU also claimed the gold in the 110-m hurdles, with Timothy Okolo finishing in 14.58 seconds, ahead of University of the East’s Edgie Garbin, UST’s John Celestino Romero, and FEU’s Joseph Antiola III in a photo finish. Garbin and Romero took second and third, leaving Antiola and the Tamaraws off the podium.

Needing a win in the final event, the 4×400-meter relay, the FEU quartet of Timothy Okolo, Andreas Womack, Gervickson Labora, and Jazzpeer Arcenal pushed hard but came up short, settling for bronze with a time of 3:17.23.

The gold in the 4×400-meter relay went to NU, with John Lloyd Cabalo, Khenneth Simtim, John Masuhol, and Orly Orongan clocking a new league record of 3:14.00. This new record broke the previous mark of 3:17.04 set by UP in 2018.

Despite the record-breaking relay performance, the overall championship returned to UP.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga athletes natin na binigay nila ‘yung kanilang 100 percent, ‘yung dedication nila, and ‘yung sacrifices,” said UP head coach Rio Dela Cruz. “Hindi namin ‘to inaasahan pero ito naman talaga ‘yung goal namin. Before mag-start, sinabi ko na sa kanila na, ‘I think we have a chance if you give your all.’ Alam namin na nag-prepare naman kami and i-enjoy lang nila. And true enough, nangyari naman ‘to.”

UST finished in third place with 236 points.

Ateneo de Manila University’s Hassan Lorana was named Rookie of the Year in the men’s division.