THE UST Female Tracksters brought home the title for the fifth-straight year, while the struggling Male Tracksters crashed to eighth place in the UAAP Season 81 athletics tournament at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig last Nov. 28 to Dec. 2.
UST successfully defended its title in the women’s division with a total of 358 points behind a 10-3-5 gold-silver-bronze medal tally, leaving Far Eastern University (347 points) and University of the Philippines (203 points) at second and third place, respectively.
“They showed good teamwork. Hindi nila pinabayaan ang isa’t isa during the events, nagtulungan sila for the championship,” UST Tracksters head coach Manny Calipes told the Varsitarian.
The Female Tracksters dominated the 4×100 and 4×400-meter relay, 100, 200, 400 and 800-meter dash, 15,000-meter run, hammer throw, javelin throw and long jump events.
Louielyn Pamatian was hailed Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the third-straight season in the women’s division after collecting gold medals in the 400 and 800-meter sprint, 4×100 and 4×400-meter relay events.
Aira Teodosio also set a new UAAP record of 46.12 meters in the hammer throw event, trouncing her last year’s record of 43.23 meters.
Impending dynasty
Even with the departure of perennial gold medalists from the current roster due to graduation, Calipes remained optimistic of the team’s six-peat bid next season.
Three-time MVP Pamatian, UAAP record-holder Teodosio and veteran Michelle de Vera all completed their playing years.
“Sa lahat naman ng teams, may mga ups and downs, may mga aalis talaga pero next year, we will have new faces tapos ‘yong mga rookies this year, magma-mature na ‘yan sila next season,” Calipes said.
As their season drew to a close, Calipes said the team will resume training in January for the Ayala Philippine National Open Invitational Athletics Championships in March. This tournament will also serve as a qualifier for the 2019 Manila South East Asian Games where Pamatian, Teodosio, team captain Alyssa Andrade, Karen Janario and Jie Anne Calis are expected to join.
8th place
The Male Tracksters failed to reach the podium anew and settled for eighth place, with one silver medal for 67 points, their worst showing in UAAP history.
Jhon Lloyd Lamaclamac registered 57:15.25 in the 10,000-meter walk on the last day of the tournament for the men’s team lone medal this season.
UP took the championship in the men’s division this year with 426 points. FEU followed with 262 markers while University of the East finished with 187 points for bronze.
Calipes said the loss of the team’s veteran players took a heavy toll on the Male Trackters’ performance this year.
The men’s squad competed with a core of 17 players, three less than the 20-man pool usually paraded by the team.
The Male Tracksters played without top pole vaulter EJ Obiena and gold medalists Kevin Capangpangan and Joel Hera, who opted to skip the tournament due to personal reasons.
“I had to challenge other players kasi no choice, we have to form a team so I needed to look for second choices na kahit nasa developmental stage pa lang, pinagtiyagaan na namin,” the tactician said.
Despite the disappointing finish, Calipes believes the future is bright for the Male Tracksters with the entry of some homegrown talents from the juniors’ team.
Obiena and Capangpangan are also expected to return to the pool next year, a boost the team greatly missed in this season’s campaign.
“I’m definitely anticipating a good performance next year kasi I’ve seen these juniors train and I can say na we will give the other teams a good fight next season,” Calipes said.
