UP, FEU at cusp of clinching UAAP athletics crowns

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Athletics Standings (Points – Gold-Silver-Bronze)

Men’s:

UP – 251 (3-6-5)

FEU – 225 (3-3-5)

UST – 184 (6-3-2)

UE – 142 (4-1-2)

AdU – 121 (0-3-4)

NU – 115.5 (1-3-1)

Ateneo – 48 (2-0-0)

DLSU – 37 (0-0-0)

Women’s:

FEU – 313.5 (5-5-6)

UST – 214 (6-3-2)

UP – 173 (3-4-3)

DLSU – 162 (3-3-3)

NU – 76 (0-2-2

AdU – 71 (1-0-2)

UE – 49 (0-1-0)

Ateneo – 1 (0-0-0)

Russel Ricaforte brought pride to event sub-host Ateneo De Manila University with a record-smashing throw in the men’s discus throw on an eventful fourth day of the UAAP Season 87 Athletics Championships on Wednesday at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium here.

The 24-year-old, two-and-through MBA student denied University of the Philippines’ Ed Deliña a fourth consecutive gold in the event, breaking Deliña’s existing meet record of 47.28 meters set on November 25, 2023, with a new mark of 47.80 meters.

Deliña had led with a throw of 47.25 meters before Ricaforte’s attempt pushed him to silver. UP’s Neil Salvador edged out Adamson University’s Daniel Rambacal for third place with a throw of 40.50 meters.

“I’m just very thankful sa mga coaches ko, lalo na kay Coach Arniel (Ferrera), because lagi silang nandyan para mag-suporta and mag-guide sa ‘kin,” said Ricaforte.

Season Hosts UP Maintain Championship Lead

The day still belonged to the season host UP, as Deliña and Salvador’s 2-3 finish kept the Season 85 champions in the lead in the championships, which are backed by CFMoto and Masiv Sports.

Reigning MVP Alrhyan Labita added eight more points in the 400-meter hurdles (54.04 seconds), while Josh Buenavista (15:46.68) and Roy Laudit (15:55.68) combined for 14 more points, bringing the Fighting Maroons to a total of 251 points.

High Jump, Decathlon Records Broken

Far Eastern University’s Ernie Calipay soared to a record-breaking feat in the men’s high jump during the morning session, surpassing his previous league mark of 2.05 meters set on November 24, 2023, twice that morning. He set the bar to 2.06 meters before clearing 2.10 meters on his third try.

This feat brought the Tamaraws closer to the Fighting Maroons, as they totaled 225 points, just 26 points behind.

National University’s Ryan Cacho (1.92m) and University of the East’s Rainier Caranto (1.85m) finished second and third, respectively.

University of Santo Tomas kept pace with the leaders, amassing 184 points heading into the fifth and final day on Thursday, thanks to gold medals from John Celestino Romero in the 400-meter hurdles and Hokett Delos Santos in the decathlon.

Romero crossed the line with a new UAAP record of 52.46 seconds, lowering his standing mark set in the morning's heats (52.77). FEU’s Timothy Okolo and Jazzpeer Arcenal finished second and third with times of 53.63 and 54.75 seconds, respectively.

Delos Santos made it back-to-back golds in the decathlon, with 6,286 points after dominating all nine of the first events.

FEU Closes in on Women's Crown

On the women’s side, the FEU Lady Tamaraws continued to dominate with a total of 25 points from the two events of the day: the long jump and the 400-meter hurdles.

All four entries of the Season 81 champions collected points in the long jump, with Rica Balderama taking the silver with a leap of 5.87 meters. Diane Taranza (5.68 meters), Angelyn Ortiz (5.58 meters), and Annaly Sinconiegue (5.41 meters) contributed to the tally, which now stands at 288.5 points.

The UST Female Tracksters remain in second with 214 points, while the UP Fighting Maroons fended off the De La Salle University Lady Green Tracksters for third with 173 points.

Adamson University’s Diana Huraño earned the gold with her squad’s first win of the meet, leaping 5.94 meters. UST’s Jeanne Arnibal finished third with a jump of 5.76 meters.

Reigning MVP Bernalyn Bejoy added another gold by winning the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:00.53. National University’s Lenlyn Sanita (1:02.44) and UST’s Justine Mae Catindoy (1:02.92) finished with the silver and bronze, respectively.

The kings and queens of track and field will be crowned after the final events of the championships on Thursday.