THE UST Junior Tiger Tracksters defended their championship after accumulating 388.5 points behind a 6-6-7 gold-silver-bronze medal tally in the UAAP Season 88 high school athletics tournament at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac, on Sunday, Nov. 9.
In the girls’ division, the UST Junior Female Tracksters secured silver with a 12-4-2 medal haul for 446.5 points.
The UST boys’ squad kicked off the competition with an early lead, bagging two golds, two silvers and two bronzes.
Leading the charge was Jayvee Ceballos, who unleashed a 43.22-meter heave to break a decade-old record of 41.18m in the boys’ hammer throw. Teammate Tayshaun Donasco completed the podium at 40.35m.
In the triple jump event, Charles Alcantara bagged silver with a leap of 14.14m. Novie Jay Masangcap then dominated the 800m run, clocking 1:53.20.
Gray Cloud Garcia joined the haul by finishing third in the pole vault at 3.55m.
Prince Cuyos clocked 22.04 seconds in the 200m dash to take home the silver medal. In the boys’ high jump, UST’s Ivan Taplacido bagged the silver after registering a 1.90m leap. Gian Aiso joined him in the podium with a bronze in the 5000m run at 16:37.30.
Meanwhile, in the 400m event, the Tiger Trackster dominated with a podium sweep, Ivan Cabanda at gold with 49.05, Masangcap at 49.08, and Michael Sunico with bronze at 49.32.
The Tracksters also dominated the boys’ 4x100m relay, clocking at 42.24 seconds composed of Sunico, Cuyos, Alcantara, and Jydan Lumantas. Bobby Babano secured silver in Javeline throw at 49.06 meters.
In the girls’ division, Liana Ascan led the Junior Female Tracksters with a gold after clocking 2:19.34 at the 800m event, while fellow trackster, Shaina Igcas, completed the podium with a bronze in 2:30.84.
UST’s dominance continued as Franceine Jhobie Rosario clinched gold in the 100m, clocking 11.97 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 12.28. Completing the podium is Lhynette Libranda at 12.48 meters
While in the girls’ shot put, Yih Fernandez bagged bronze at 9.50m.
On Day two, the girls’ squad claimed seven medals, continuing their dominance in the tournament.
Rosario broke another meet record in the 200m dash with a 24.77-second finish to capture gold, surpassing the previous record of 24.84 seconds.
Libranda broke the girls’ heptathlon UAAP record with 3,669 points, while teammate Rica Clavel tallied 3,553 points, earning gold and silver medals, respectively.
In the mixed 4×400m relay, the quartet of Ivan Cabanda, Fiona Pilaspilas, Liana Ascan and Novie Masangcap broke the UAAP record after clocking 3:40.93 to capture gold.
The Junior Female Tracksters extended their medal haul on Day 3 by securing seven golds, three silvers, and four bronzes, continuing their strong performance in the competition.
In the girls’ pole vault, the lone UST athlete, Franceine Rosario struck gold with a height of 2.51m.
Clavel also won gold in the triple jump event at 11.08m. Ascan clocked 5:15.71 to take gold in the 1500m event. Rosario also strengthened her MVP bid by clinching gold at 400m, clocking at 59.03 seconds.
UST also capped the gold in the 4x100m relay with the quartet of Nichole Santiago, Rosario, Clavel and Libranda with a winning time of 48.68.
While in the girls’ 5000m run, Shaina Igcas completed the podium with a bronze at 21:23.38.
On the final day, the Female Junior Tracksters amassed five medals with two golds, one silver, and two bronze.
Clavel took silver at 1.50 meters in the girls’ high jump. While her teammate Ascan completed the podium with bronze at 1.45 meters.
The girls’ team also reigned supreme in the 4x400m relay, composed of Ascan, Fiona Pilaspilas, Libranda and Rosario with a time of 4:05.72..
Libranda also captured the gold in the 100m hurdles record, followed by another gold medal in the 400m hurdles at 1:06.47. F – Francia Miguel Violeta
