Warriors claim 1st athletics title in 6 years

By Karlo Sacamos

02/09/2010

The University of the East men’s team aced almost one-third of the athletic events to dethrone Far Eastern University and claim its 10th men’s title overall, while the Lady Tamaraws ran away with their seventh straight tile in the 72nd UAAP athletics championships last weekend at the Rizal Memorial Oval Track.

The Warriors topped seven of the 23 events: 10000-meter run, 800-meter run, 5000-meter walk, 3000-meter steeplechase, 5000-meter run, 10000-meter walk, and the 1500-meter run to finish atop the standings with 196 points and claim their first title in six years.

FEU, the former four-time defending champion, meanwhile aced the 200-meter dash, decathlon, 400-meter dash, 400-m hurdles, triple jump, and the 4x400m run to finish second with 182 points. The Morayta-based school, though, is still tied with University of the Philippines for the most men’s titles won with 18.

Tamaraw Romnick Herida, who racked up four gold medals in those six events, was later named Most Valuable Player in the men’s division.

It was a neck-and-neck battle throughout between the Warriors and the Tamaraws’ before UE’s 23-point tally in the 1500-meter run behind Wenlie Maulas’ and Ernie Opiana’s gold-and-silver medal finish. FEU only scored a point in that event that proved decisive to UE’s 14-point victory.

Ateneo de Manila University finished at the third spot with 145 points, while University of Santo Tomas, De la Salle University, and University of the Philippines registered 142, 70, and 67 points to finish fourth, fifth, and sixth place, respectively.

FEU women’s squad, meanwhile, stamped its dominance for the seventh straight year as it aced the 1500-meter run, 800-meter run, javelin throw, 200-meter dash, 10000-meter run, discus throw, 3000-meter steeplechase, hammer throw, 5000-meter run, and the heptathlon events for the runaway victory with 304 points.

UST finished a distant second with 253 points, but proved that the future would be bright after greenhorn Serenata Saluan racked up seven gold medals to grab not just the Rookie of the Year honor, but the MVP plum as well.

UE’s women’s team scored 106 points for third place, while the Lady Eagles (74), Lady Maroons (63), and Lady Archers (38) rounded up the standings.

In juniors’ play, UP successfully defended its title as it finished with a league-leading 305 points, just a slim lead over Ateneo’s 299 points. UST finished with 188 points for third place, while Adamson University, De la Salle Zobel, and UE wound up with 23, 11, and eight points, respectively.

Back to top

For comments about this website:Webmaster@tribune.net.ph
The Daily Tribune © 2006