FEU, the champion of UAAP Season 87 women's athletics. UAAP Media
MANILA -- Far Eastern University and University of the Philippines reclaimed the women's and men's titles, respectively, at the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Athletics Championships, held at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.
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, saying, "It was an awesome feeling kasi alam naman natin na mahirap makuha 'yung championship. Sa recruitment pa lang, then sa injuries ng players. Kaya it was so satisfying, especially hindi ko inaakala na 'yung lamang namin is nasa 100 points."
"Bilib ako sa mga bata talaga; I'm amazed sa pinakita nila kasi noon talaga para silang baby. Pero ngayon, nakikita mo as Tamaraws, nanunuwag talaga sila," the long-time mentor added.
READ: More records broken as FEU women surge ahead in athletics
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 (11.82 meters) and UP's Aina Masangkay (11.05 meters). Miravalles won the hurdles with a time of 14.68 seconds, narrowly edging De La Salle University'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 De La Salle University for the final podium spot with 195 points, despite the latter's strong finish. DLSU'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 4x400-meter 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, the champion of UAAP Season 87 men's athletics. UAAP MediaEd 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 (42.81 meters) and Jhon Laurenze Ballelos (42.08 meters).
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-meter 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 4x400-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 4x400-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.