IN SEPARATE competitions during the Christmas break, the UST Tracksters brought glory, not only for the school, but also for the whole country.
Seven UST Tracksters joined the Philippine delegation in the 15th ASEAN University Games (AUG) held in Chiangmai, Thailand from December 15 to 23.
Tracksters Meriam Colangoy, Luville Dato-on, Serenata Saluan, Keizel Pedriña, Viena Mae and Ma. Dela Paz Banebane, and Roger Denolo contributed five out to the 33 medals of the Philippines, 10 of which came from the Athletics division.
Colangoy, team captain of the UST Female Tracksters, clocked in two minutes and 57.13 seconds in the hepthathlon event to bring home a silver medal.
The Banebane sisters also made their mark as Viena Mae finished third in the 100-meter hurdles (15.81) and Ma. Dela Paz reaped a bronze in the 400-meter hurdles (1:09.41).
Dato-on, Season 70’s Rookie of the Year, chipped in two more bronze medals after she covered 5.29 meters in the long jump and 11.64 meters in the triple jump events.
Back in the home country
In the local scene, the Male Tracksters topped the Philippine Inter-collegiate Athletics Meet (PICAM) last December 18 and 19, while their female counterparts settled for third place despite the majority of the lineup competing in Thailand at the time.
“They [Male Tracksters] did a very good performance,” said UST coach Manny Calipes,
“I believe they will have a buildup of confidence [for the UAAP]. Especially the international meet, it’s a very big help. It’s a different experience.”
The Male Tracksters tallied a 6-3-4 gold-silver-bronze medal output, leading De La Salle University (4-6-2) and Colegio de San Juan de Letran (3-6-4), which placed econd and third, respectively.
Gold medals poured in for team captain Emmanuel delos Angeles in the 100-meter hurdles (15.0), Vincent Osorio in the 10000-meter run (36:01.7), Jennard Bercasio in the hammer throw event (22.63 meters) and Mark David Madera in the decathlon event (4209 points). Jordan Paul Billones harvested a double gold in the 800-meter (1:57.9) and 1500-meter run (4:10.1).
Delos Angeles chipped in two more silvers in the 100-meter (10.7) and 200-meter dash (22.5) while the Thomasian quartet of Michael Angelo Baay, James Neil Borres, Madera and Billones also finished second in the 4×400-meter a 3:27.1 clocking.
Baay earned a bronze in the 400-meter run with a time of 51.1. Madera and Milbert Nabuab finished third in the 400-meter hurdles (58.5) and 10000-meter run (37:42.6) respectively. Ernie Sabiduria threw the javelin for 42.91 meters, en route to a third-place finish.
On the distaff side, the Female Tracksters’ 3-9-9 medal harvest was good enough for third, behind tournament champion Far Eastern University (16-10-9) and runner-up La Salle (4-2-3).
Promising rookie Jilla dela Rosa, Miriam Miranda and Janice Marquez snared a gold apiece in the 1500-meter run (4:57.8), 3000-meter steeplechase (12:12.6) and 5000-meter walk (32:40.6) events, respectively.
Dela Rosa collected silver medals in the 800-meter run (2:22.9) and 3000-meter steeplechase (12:24.5). In the long jump event, Marinel de Chavez finished second after posting a 4.73. Joy Albinio also placed second with a 2.35 meter record in the pole vault event. Albinio also contributed a silver medal in the heptathlon event with 3,354 points.
Miranda, Raquel Joyce del Socorro and Rookie Gwendolyn Narciso also captured the silver in the 5000-meter run (19:56.3), 5000-meter walk (33:46.8) and 400-meter run (1:02.1), respectively.
Following the lead of their male counterparts, the black-and-gold squad of Albinio, Narciso, Cristine Delfin and Manilyn Clavejo placed second in the 4×400-meter relay with a time of four minutes and 13.2 seconds.
Clavejo also contributed a twin bronze in the 400-meter hurdles (1:09.5) and 400-meter run (1:30.0).
Also snatching bronze medals were Albinio in long jump (4.65 meters), Chairy Palermo in high jump (1.50 meters) and Ma. Trecia Ricalde in hammer throw (28.78 meters).
Vilma Sta. Ana, Miranda and de Chavez pitched in bronze medals apiece in the 5000-meter walk (35:53.5), 1000-meter run (43:59.5) and 60-meter dash (8.2) respectively.
In the 4×100-meter relay, Albinio teamed up with Narciso, Clavejo and De Chavez (52.6) to cop a bronze.
Jins on the scene
Aside from the Tracksters, the UST Jins also took part in the Philippines’ medal haul in AUG.
Lady Jin Jade Zafra clinched a gold in the women’s lightweight +57 kg -62 kg division, the lone gold the country got for the sport.
Three bronze medals were awarded to Thomasians Christian Al dela Cruz in the men’s lightweight +68 kg -74 kg, Marlon Avenido in the men’s welterweight +74 kg -80 kg and
Maria Camille Manalo in the women’s welterweight +62 kg -67 kg divisions.
