Ninura secures second gold in UAAP athletics

c/o UAAP

Mea Gey Niñura of University of the Philippines became the first double gold medalist in the UAAP Season 87 Athletics Championships after topping the women’s 5,000 meters in the morning session on Monday at the New Clark City Stadium here.

The graduating senior from Kapatagan National High School followed up on her 10,000 meters title the previous day with a dominant finish of 18:47.33, ahead of teammate and national triathlete Erika Burgos, who clocked 18:54.90. Jessa Mae Roda of National University completed the podium with a time of 19:14.50.

“Ngayong season ang ginagawa ko is gusto kong bumabawi ako for the last season ko. Kasi tapos na ko mag-aral, kumbaga giving back na lang sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas. Ito ‘yung nagpa-aral sa ‘kin eh at dahil sa university, nakapagtapos ako,” said the Physical Education graduate.

University of Santo Tomas claimed the gold in the women’s javelin throw with Lanie Carpintero’s massive heave of 47.36 meters. Ann Katherine Quitoy of De La Salle University took a distant second with 40.19 meters, while Adamson University’s Elizabeth Sicat completed the podium with 37.87 meters.

Chrizzel Lanipa finished fourth in the event with a throw of 37.52 meters, keeping the Fighting Maroons in second place with 118 points, trailing Far Eastern University’s 129.

Rica Mae Balderama secured the Lady Tamaraws' top spot with a gold in the triple jump, reaching 12.52 meters. She bested UST's Jeanne Arnibal, who jumped 12.47 meters, and De La Salle University's Abcd Agamanos, who had 12.26 meters.

In the men’s division, James Darrel Orduña successfully defended his 10,000 meters title with a time of 32:10.81, helping University of the East stay in the thick of the competition.

FEU’s Rogen Aguirre followed with a time of 33:07.02, while UP’s Roy Laudit outlasted teammate and record holder Josh Buenavista for third place with 33:54.22.

The UST Tiger Tracksters maintain their hold on the pole position with 79 points.

Action also resumed at the New Clark City Aquatics Centre here with the continuation of the UAAP 87 Swimming Championships.

The Day 2 preliminary session was highlighted by Rian Marco Tirol of Ateneo de Manila University, who raced to a new UAAP record of 28.77 seconds in the men’s 50-meter breaststroke, lowering his own mark of 29.10 seconds set last season.

The long-time national athlete will aim to duplicate the feat in the afternoon final to help bolster his team’s chances of achieving a rare nine-peat in the men’s division.

The women’s division remains a three-way battle between defending champions University of the Philippines, De La Salle University, and Ateneo.

University of Santo Tomas continues to lead in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions with a slew of qualifiers from the preliminary session.

The afternoon session of the athletics and the Finals of the swimming competitions are underway as of publishing.